07.22
I saw this article over the weekend about how the Tuscaloosa Police recently held a “gun buyback” event. You’ve seen these things before I’m sure. It’s where the local police offer cash payouts to anyone who turns in a gun. In this case they also promised not to press any charges if the person was in possession of the gun without a license(which I don’t really understand since you don’t have to be “licensed” to own a gun in Alabama). Here’s the low down:
At about 8:45 a.m., the department opened shop for a gun buyback at its east precinct in Alberta, offering gift cards to anyone who brought in a gun.
Officers handed out $50 Visa gift cards to those who brought in handguns, $75 gift cards for rifles and shotguns and $100 for assault rifles. Those who brought in inoperable weapons received a $25 gift card.
No names or addresses were taken during the event and no charges were made against those who turned in a gun without a license.
The department had $1,400 in gift cards to trade for firearms, and by 9:30 a.m. the cards had run out.
People continued to drop off guns, however, and by the end of the buyback at noon, the department had collected more than 30 guns.
So, the Tuscaloosa Police Department just crapped $1400 down the toilet. The article goes on to say:
Anderson said most folks who dropped off guns had no use for them and simply wanted them out of the house.
“And most of the guns we see used in crimes are those just laying around the house, readily available,” he said.
“This was a huge success,” said Police Chief Steve Anderson. “Any gun that we get off the street is a gun that we can be assured won’t be used at a later date in an assault or robbery.”
A “huge success?” What are the odds that most of the people that turned in those guns have at least one other gun in their home? I’d say the chances are pretty high. And from looking at the picture that accompanied the story, I’d say that most of the guns that were turned in look like gun show surplus stuff anyway. Who wouldn’t turn in a beat up old AK-47 and get a $100? I would in a heart beat.
Look, I can sympathize with people being concerned about gun violence, but programs like these do absolutely nothing. You might as well just put up a sign in the yard that says: “Come get free money for that extra gun you were gonna sell on gunbroker.com anyway.”
They got 30 guns “off the street. Only about 60 million to go and they can call it a day.
Capt. Jeff Hartley pointed out the large amount of small weapons collected during the buyback.
“This was our main goal here. We wanted to get these easily concealable weapons out of people’s hands,” he said
I bet it was. The main goal of government is always to disarm the people. The less guns we have and the more guns they have the better they like it.
