Do gun buybacks make us any safer?

[foggood11]

This was on the morning news today. Worth your time to watch, as it's spot-on. Seattle is gun un-friendly. I was floored that a Seattle station would air this.

From a 2A perspective though, the State of Washington is fairly good. State law preempts counties and cities from enacting their own gun restrictions, willy nilly. And for carry permits (called CPL's - concealed pistol licenses), this state is a "shall-issue" state, meaning if the applicant has no disqualifying history (domestic violence, felon, subject of a restraining order, etc), the local issuing authority must issue a CPL.

Anyway, I was floored. Good piece of work by KIRO.
KIRO 7 investigates if gun buybacks make us any safer | www.kirotv.com

 

[cddanjr]

gun buybacks are good for unloading junk that you cannot really sell.

thats all.

Chuck

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

As a beginner and not knowing any better, I bought a cheap pot metal SNS.

I have it and another *** gun that I want to turn in for the $$.

I probably will make a few $$ on the deal.

A guy I know did turn in unusable Frames and walked away with $300 from the last "buy back"

I think the "No Questions asked" policy would be a winner for any criminal to get money for a gun used in a crime.

 

[feralmerril]

The idea is a bad, stupid, costly joke.

 

[Kanewpadle]

The idea is a bad, stupid, costly joke.

I agree. It's just something they do to make themselves look like they are accomplishing something when they aren't.

There is a serious lack of common sense and honesty with those that think such programs work.

 

[Marlboroman]

I saw a gun buy back program on our local news, where local gun collectors were offering more $$$ to the people turning in their unwanted guns than were the cops. A trained eye could pick up some good deals!

 

[rags]

No. It's a "Feel Good".

 

[sipowicz]

They do make us safer...by turning in junk guns and using the money for a quality gun.

 

[BruceB]

I heard on the radio news yesterday of Seattle's proposed solution to the private buying that was going on outside the buy-back event.

The mayor got together with his city attorney and figured out they would charge anyone buying from people bringing their guns to the buyback with "engaging in commerce in a public right-of-way without a permit" which has a $500 fine as penalty. The buy-back was held under the I-5 freeway in downtown Seattle.

Found a link -
http://mynorthwest.com/11/2197651/Seattle-Mayor-Mike-McGinn-No-more-sidewalk-gun-sales

 

[jgh4445]

Absolutely make us safer. You could be standing next to one at the range when it has a KABOOM.

 

[J Rich]

Sure it could. If all the bad guys hand in their guns for quick cash.

 

[cddanjr]

criminal commerce

You see, the criminals commit burglary, sell the guns to the Police, or other questionably attached entity, no questions asked, get $100-300 dollars. In most cases more money and safer than fencing the weapon, and NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

The Police go thru the guns, supposedly to run serial numbers to return stolen weapons to the owners, keep the really good M&P15's, LIKE MINE (possibly) to supplement their limited budget arsenals.

Seems like a line is getting crossed/blurred or "Dont pay attention to the man behind the curtain!"

IF THEIR IS A RULE IN THIS I AM MISSING, THAT WOULD PUT THE AUTHORITIES IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE MY OPINION CHANGED.

Til then, I think gun buy backs are just so wrong.

Chuck

 

[dougb1946]

I think they are great. Get some of those cheap pot metal guns off the street before some BG hurts himself with a "boom"out the backside.

 

[COL Jagdog]

Got the REAL answer -- what we really need is a good sharp stick buyback program -- I've always hated the thought of getting a "sharp stick in the eye" -- there are so many millions of sharp (and semi-sharp) sticks out there in the hands of people who don't know how to handle them -- who constantly run around with sharp sticks and who might trip accidentally or on purpose while I'm standing on a subway platform (even though there are no, as in zero, subways or subway platforms in Louisiana) -- so, if we spend millions or even billions on a "sharp stick" buyback platform, it should exponentially reduce the chance that I (precious me) will be the recipient (intended or unintended) of a sharp stick to the eye -- even though the chance of that happening is already close to zero. Sounds like a great use of taxpayer to me

 

[beemerphile]

I imagine that burglaries and thefts go up in the month ahead of a Police Free Fencing Operation.

 

[Mike7.62]

I always get amused by the gun buyback BS. I can't help but wonder what crimes have been covered up by the "no questions asked" bonanzas that seem to get the greatest response. I mean, if a firearm had been used in a crime and the perpetrator wanted to get rid of it, what a perfect way to do so.

 

[gdnagle]

I think they are great. Get some of those cheap pot metal guns off the street before some BG hurts himself with a "boom"out the backside.

Yea keeps the tax payer from paying their medical bill.

 

[GaryS]

Gun buy backs accomplish the following,

Allow criminals to get rid of guns stolen or used in crimes.

Potentially destroy evidence of said crimes.

Cheat elderly, usually women, out of the real value of those firearms their late husbands left behind.

Deny collectors and other legal gun owners who would pay a fair value for those guns the opportunity to do so.

Remove junk guns from closets and sock drawers.

Allow grandstanding politicians to claim that they are doing something to fight crime when in fact they are doing nothing.

Make me sad.

 

[A10]

You forgot one Gary, and that is Waste a Lot of Taxpayer Money!

 

[Sorriso]

King 5 reports not all police agencies destroy guns seized by police or turned in by private citizens. Guess what they do with them...?

W. Washington police, sheriff's depts. in business of selling guns | KING5.com Seattle

 

[bushmaster1313]

Got the REAL answer -- what we really need is a good sharp stick buyback program --

How much could I get for a double blunt end assault stick from a 6 round Model 12 shotgun magazine

 

[G-Mac]

It's just something they do to make themselves look like they are accomplishing something when they aren't.

Isn't that why politicians exist?

 

[jkc]

Got the REAL answer -- what we really need is a good sharp stick buyback program -- I've always hated the thought of getting a "sharp stick in the eye" -- there are so many millions of sharp (and semi-sharp) sticks out there in the hands of people who don't know how to handle them -- who constantly run around with sharp sticks and who might trip accidentally or on purpose while I'm standing on a subway platform (even though there are no, as in zero, subways or subway platforms in Louisiana) -- so, if we spend millions or even billions on a "sharp stick" buyback platform, it should exponentially reduce the chance that I (precious me) will be the recipient (intended or unintended) of a sharp stick to the eye -- even though the chance of that happening is already close to zero. Sounds like a great use of taxpayer to me

Now look, I've read William Golding's Lord of the Flies, and you'll only get my sharpened stick when you pry it from my cold dead fingers, or, if you agree to buy as many as I can supply, at exorbitant rates...

 

[BobC357]

What percentage of criminals and would-be criminals are turning their guns in?

That will answer the question as to if it is making us any safer.

 

[HotRoderX]

I think in the future if this trend continues special with places doing no questions asked. Where going to see guns being stolen just so they can be turned in for quick easy cash with no strings attached.

All the criminal has to do is steal 3-4 guns and they will make on average 500-1000 dollars and they don't even have to worry about getting into trouble.

I think gun buy backs are a terrible idea and do not work.

 

[quneur]

In a local forum, people that were at the gun buyback made a few good deals. Apparently, there was a huge turnout of gun buyers and turn-ins had a four hour wait time. One person said an older woman standing ahead of him had 4 M1 garands. He tried to convince her to sell but refused. Kinda breaks your heart.

 

[Lew Archer]

If it was so successful, why wouldn't they do it with other items of concern?

Say, knives. Or sharpened screwdrivers. Hey, it's a popular street weapon.

Or illegal drugs.

Or Ford Pintos.

Nah, it's just photo OP BS, so that everyone can feel good they've taken some guns off the street.

How about, just for kicks, aggressively prosecuting felons found in possession of guns. Get the criminals who carry guns illegally off the street?

In Los Angeles county, for example, the District Attorney's Office frequently rejects those cases, and the US Attorney's office in LA isn't keen on them either.

 

[GaryS]

You forgot one Gary, and that is Waste a Lot of Taxpayer Money!

I was going to mention that, but lately the trend seems to be to get charitable organizations or corporations like Target to donate money or gift cards. Still, your point is valid, I'm sure that there is something more productive that could be done with that money.

 

[GaryS]

King 5 reports not all police agencies destroy guns seized by police or turned in by private citizens. Guess what they do with them...?

W. Washington police, sheriff's depts. in business of selling guns | KING5.com Seattle

And you'll notice how they tried to spin that story. The one instance where guns were sold in violation of the law concerned a police officer. Who was caught and is now in prison.

I'd like to ask this reporter how many cars seized by the police are crushed vs. being sold? Or how much money is burned up vs. being used to fund equipment? Or if when the government seizes someone's house or business, if they bull doze the building and just sell the vacant lot?

When someone is killed by a train, do they melt down just the engine or the entire train?

I think I know the answer.

 

[H Richard]

These programs do help gun safety "When" a club organizes collecting all the old rusty junk and turns it in and uses the money to train more new youth shooters or buys more good guns for the youth to shoot.