Los Angeles, Jul 20 (IANS): Nearly 5,000 guns collected by Los Angeles law enforcement agencies were destroyed in the Southern Californian city of Rancho Cucamonga.

This was to celebrate the 24th annual Gun Destruction Event which is part of a partnership between the LA County Sheriff's Department (LASD) and a Gerdau Steel Mill furnace in Rancho Cucamonga, Xinhua news agency reports.

In total, 4,971 pieces of confiscated and surrendered firearms, including handguns, rifles and automatic weapons, were melted down at the furnace on Wednesday.

The firearms were contributed by 13 area police departments across LA county. The LASD said the metal will be converted into steel rebar that can be used in highway and bridge construction.

"These weapons, which were used to harm, take away life and effectively rescind happiness from families and communities, will be turned into something more progressive and beneficial for all of our communities," LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said.

According to the Gerdau Steel Mill furnace, over 1,65,000 weapons have been melted down in the 24 years since the annual event began.