NEW ORLEANS — Dozens of cars lined up outside a New Orleans church parking lot this week as residents flocked to exchange firearms for video game consoles through a city-supported gun buyback initiative meant to improve public safety as Louisiana loosens gun ownership laws.
Leticia Clanton, 50, waited all morning Tuesday for the opportunity. While she had a permit to carry a concealed handgun she owned for the past decade, she also has eight young grandchildren running around her home. She chose to swap her weapon for a PlayStation 5 worth about $500.
Pastor Antoine Barriere, left, hands a PlayStation 5 to Leticia Clanton after she handed over her handgun Tuesday in New Orleans.
"With all the grandkids and all the violence that they got going on, it's time to get it up off the street," Clanton said. As for the PlayStation? "It's going to be for all of them to share when they come to the house."
Over the course of two hours, city police officers received and dismantled 32 revolvers, shotguns and semi-automatics, all traded in with no questions asked as long the guns were functional.
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In all, the city collected 94 guns through three buybacks over the past six months, all involving swaps for gaming devices.
City police Officer John Mciver dismantles a firearm handed over Tuesday in a city-supported initiative offering PlayStations in exchange for guns in New Orleans.
A nonprofit, Unchained Realities, organized the exchanges as part of its Nola Grown gaming program that engages young people in the city with gaming. The nonprofit established two centers for youth to build skills and open up pathways to the gaming world, whether as a competitive player or through game development, graphic design and coding. A third center is in the works.
"If my inbox is filled up with people who say they want to do this, I just felt a necessity to go out and try to raise some more money," said J.D. Carrere, co-director of the gaming program.
Tuesday's event was paid for mainly through donations from two private businesses.
Jamile Barnes, 48, left, hands a gun over to a city police officer Tuesday as part of gun buybacks that exchange PlayStations for firearms in New Orleans.
Carrere said the buybacks came in response to Louisiana's more relaxed gun ownership restrictions and harsher sentencing for violent crimes.
Shortly after taking office last year, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry pushed a tough-on-crime agenda through the GOP-dominated Legislature. The laws passed include mandating that 17-year-olds be charged as adults and require anyone convicted of a crime to serve 85% of their sentence before they can be released.
Another law that went in effect in August allows most people 18 years or older to carry a concealed weapon without a government permit, a firearms training course or getting their fingerprints taken — all previous legal requirements.
Landry's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Police collected more than 30 guns Tuesday in exchange for PlayStations in New Orleans.
New Orleans historically had one of the nation's highest homicide rates and city officials often clashed with the rest of conservative Louisiana over how to handle violent crime. However, murders and nonfatal shootings decreased significantly in the past two years, according to the city police department.
There were hundreds of gun buybacks around the country but quantitative studies, such as a 2021 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, have not indicated they do much to noticeably reduce violent crime.
Critics say buybacks only collect a fraction of the guns on the streets, fail to reach the people most likely to commit crimes and come with lots of loopholes. During a statewide gun buyback in New York in 2022, a man claimed $21,000 in gift cards by mass-producing 3D printed guns.
J.D. Carrere, right, co-director of the NOLA Grown gaming program, attends a city-supported gun buyback program Tuesday in New Orleans.
Community leaders in New Orleans say the PlayStation swap should be seen not as a one-off but as part of broader community engagement strategy that also raises awareness and connects families with city-supported gaming programs for their kids.
"To simply take a gun away is not enough," Carrere said. "I think to replace it with opportunity is really what we're doing."
Carrere said he considers the gun buyback initiative successful if it stops even one person from using a gun to commit a crime. He points out it is likely less expensive to hand out PlayStations than imprison someone for armed robbery.
"We all win because we don't have to deal with another death, we don't have to deal with another family losing loved ones either by gunshot or by jail," Carrere said. "And we don't have to then strain the system."
7 key food trends for 2025 forecasted by Instacart purchasing data
7 key food trends for 2025 forecasted by Instacart purchasing data
As 2024 draws to a close and the new year approaches, Instacart shares its anticipated food and grocery trends for 2025. To develop this forecast, Instacart analyzed its purchase data from 2024 to uncover standout insights about how people filled their carts (and kitchens) with items that trended across pop culture and social media over the past year.
The data revealed these key insights:
- Health and wellness are continuing to influence people's grocery purchasing decisions.Â
- Cooking and baking from scratch is on the rise.
- Enjoying diverse flavors is becoming increasingly important to many.Â
Here's a deeper dive into the seven top food and grocery trends forecast for 2025.
Prebiotic and Probiotic Power
Digestive health has taken center stage in the wellness conversation, driving a surge of prebiotic and probiotic drink purchases. Prebiotic and probiotic drinks offer a convenient way to support a healthy gut, which is associated with health benefits like improved digestion, enhanced immune function, and mental well-being. This has contributed to a robust year-over-year category growth of 58%, illustrating the substantial consumer demand for gut-friendly options.
In today's fast-paced world, convenience reigns supreme and people are increasingly interested in making small shifts to improve their overall health and wellness, which could be as simple as subbing in a probiotic soda on occasion instead of a "traditional" one. Considering the massive category growth seen this year, it's likely the gut-friendly excitement will continue into the year ahead with even more consumers purchasing prebiotic and probiotic drinks.
Non-Alcoholic Renaissance
The non-alcoholic beverage trend is making a significant splash, reshaping social norms and consumer habits alike. As more individuals seek to enjoy social gatherings without alcohol, alternatives like non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits have become more prominent. Instacart data shows that the share of orders containing canned non-alcoholic cocktails (+404%), non-alcoholic spirits (+129%), non-alcoholic wines (+28%), and non-alcoholic beers (+17%) have all increased over the past year.
Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are at the forefront of this trend. Known for their health-first mindsets, they are more likely to experiment with non-alcoholic options in social situations and as a way to wind down at the end of the day. It's clear that the stigma around opting out of alcohol is fading, with non-alcoholic beverages providing a bridge that allows everyone to engage in the shared social experience of enjoying a drink.
Tinned Fish Frenzy
In 2024, tinned fish made waves across social media and beyond. With an increase in order share for canned mackerel up 74% and sardines climbing 13%, these pantry staples are not just about convenience. Tinned fish platters and inventive recipes have captured the imaginations of Gen Z and millennials, linking seamlessly with the #tomatogirl aesthetic, which celebrates classic and nostalgic foods.
Incorporating tinned fish into meals echoes the rustic simplicity popularized by the #tomatogirl trend, speaking to a growing interest in cooking that's accessible, affordable, and packed with flavor. With consumers increasingly seeking fresh, simple, and wholesome ingredients, the appeal of tinned fish is likely here to stay as a staple for weekly meal planning and special dinners and spreads.
Baking From Scratch Resurgence
Baking from scratch is back in full swing and ovens are pre-heating everywhere as people rediscover the joy of breadmaking. While sourdough may have seen its heyday in 2020, the love for homemade baked goods shows no signs of waning. Data reveals a 49% increase in the share of bread flour orders, alongside a 17% uptick in wheat berry purchases. These trends reflect a growing social media movement encouraging less processed foods and more baking and cooking from scratch. This revival in breadmaking might be tied to the "homesteader" trend, which has garnered millions of views on social platforms. This lifestyle embraces the self-sufficient, back-to-basics approach of producing your own food and encourages people to find nourishment not just in consuming food, but in the very act of creating it.
Homemade breadmaking isn't the only food trend gaining in popularity: At-home pizza making is also having a moment. The share of orders with 00 flour, renowned for its quality in pizza making, have grown by 45%, while orders containing pizza sauce are also up by 9%.
International Flavors Abound
As the world becomes more interconnected, the culinary scene is experiencing a vibrant transformation, with international flavors playing a more prominent role in daily meals. Diverse global cuisines, especially those inspired by Asian influences, are reshaping not only people's taste buds but also the items on their grocery lists. This trend mirrors a wider cultural shift towards inclusivity and exploration, highlighting a collective openness to embracing different culinary traditions.
The surge in popularity for items like milk tea (+75%), kimchi (+8%), and frozen Asian buns (+93%), showcases how cultural diversity and culinary innovation are becoming part of everyday dining for the masses. This growing appetite for international flavors is sparking creativity in food production and distribution, as grocery stores are now brimming with a vast selection of international ingredients and packaged foods. Given the rapid growth of these items, it's likely that new flavor explorations will continue into 2025.
As we step into 2025, these emerging food and grocery trends highlight a move toward prioritizing health, cooking (and baking) from scratch, and exploring different cultures through food.
This story was produced by Instacart and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
