CLEVELAND -- The city of Cleveland is getting rid of hundred of guns, melting them down in the name of safety.

In the last two years, the city has taken more than 3,000 guns off the streets as part of the buy-back program.

A couple weeks ago, the city bought more than 400 weapons, giving each owner a $100 gas card in exchange.

None of those guns will be destroyed during Wednesday's meltdown at Arcelor Mittal Steel because it takes months, sometimes years, before authorities can destroy them.

After being purchased, the guns have to be traced and entered into a nationwide database, then recycled into steel.

In fact, Cleveland has thousands of guns waiting to be destroyed. They'll melt about 400 on Wednesday.