LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police are offering grocery store gift cards for guns in a buyback program that was moved up in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.

Long lines of cars have formed Wednesday as people turn in weapons at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and the Van Nuys Masonic Temple.

The anonymous buyback program means weapons can be turned in with no questions asked. Handguns, rifles and shotguns can be exchanged for $100 Ralphs grocery store gift cards. Assault weapons earn a $200 card.

The program, designed to get guns off the streets, usually is held in May but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decided to do it now in the wake of the Dec. 14 shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn.

A buyback last May netted about 1,700 guns.