Gun buybacks

Please explain to me how these types of events have any chances of actually affecting what the supporting groups claim to target - gun violence.

We're having another one here in CT - I heard on the news this AM that a long gun (not "assault") would fetch $50, a handgun $75 and an "assault" weapon $100 (it didn't elaborate on what qualified as "assault").

So let me get this straight - if you are a rational, law-abiding person, you're only going to trade in a gun that isn't worth what they'll pay you for it, and if a long gun is worth less than $50, it's basically a boat anchor anyway, so no sane person is going to hand in a functional gun.

If you're a criminal, your weapon is your means to livelihood - I guess you could just steal another one, but I'd imagine that the street value of the weapon is MUCH more than the $50/75/100 that the buyback people would offer.

So I guess these events are just D&P shows?

Over 2,000 weapons were taken off Los Angeles streets during a gun buyback on Dec. 26 [nydailynews.com]

And it was funded by donations, IIRC.

I think the error in logic is that these guns that are bought back that are now 'off the streets' would have been 'on the streets' had they not been re-purchased.

If someone wanted to make use of these in an illegal fashion the only reason they would have to turn them in is if they were being paid more than the gun is worth.

I think another (social) problem with these buy-back programs is that it leads the average non-gun owner to assume that every gun not bought is currently 'on the streets'.


Side question: Can a licensed gun-dealer buy guns from a party 'no questions asked' or just law enforcement?

Quote from skiman : Over 2,000 weapons were taken off Los Angeles streets during a gun buyback on Dec. 26 [nydailynews.com] And it was funded by donations, IIRC.

The one publicized with 2 Rocket Launchers?! Empty tubes that look scary!!

Not functional [latimes.com]

LAPD gets punked [beforeitsnews.com]

Like all the feel good gun control legislation, these are all for show. You don't have a drug dealer walking up and getting nothing in cash for their gun.

Any bets on the actual number of weapons turned in on the table?

Quote from Rebound : Can we re-name "The Podium" and call it "The Gun Freak Zone"? How many more gun threads do we need? I find it pathetic that all some people seem to care about is the constitution.

Yes, that is terrible.

Quote from Rebound : Can we re-name "The Podium" and call it "The Gun Freak Zone"? How many more gun threads do we need? I find it pathetic that all some people seem to care about is their stupid guns.

I know! Our government/Congress should be working on the economy, or health care, or.... oh; wait... you meant...

Quote from Favrerox : The one publicized with 2 Rocket Launchers?! Empty tubes that look scary!! Not functional [latimes.com] LAPD gets punked [beforeitsnews.com]

Are you making fun of the people that turned them in? Or what?

Quote from skiman : Are you making fun of the people that turned them in? Or what?

No the media that made it seem like some irresponsible gun owner had rocket launchers lying around in addition to their guns. Shoot! I should've brought down the bomb casings we get in our metal scrap pile and gotten some gift cards. Better yet, I bet my saw-off double barrel Fatboy atom bomb launcher would've been at least $100.

Plus most articles and pictures highlighted black, modular, used in the movies weapons.

As many people have said before, it's a great way to get broken guns out of houses, pawn shops, and gun shops.

Quote from WindySummer : How many more gun threads do we need?

Common sense would say 7 to 10. Anything more would be assaulting TP.

Quote from Favrerox : No the media that made it seem like some irresponsible gun owner had rocket launchers lying around in addition to their guns. Shoot! I should've brought down the bomb casings we get in our metal scrap pile and gotten some gift cards. Plus most articles and pictures highlighted black, modular, used in the movies weapons.

AFAIK, they didn't pay for the launcher tubes. I believe that the weapons had to be functional to receive a gift card.

Quote from skiman : AFAIK, they didn't pay for the launcher tubes. I believe that the weapons had to be functional to receive a gift card.

Functionally was not a prerequisite.

Yeah, yeah, I know they didn't pay anything for them. But they still touted them out and let every media outlet cry outrage at the fact that they were "rocket launchers" in LA; but thankfully due to the LAPD buyback program these would never again be used for death.

Of course the facts that they are one-time use and one was actually a training piece didn't surface.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, the great and powerful OZ has spoken!"

It goes on and on and on....

Quote from Favrerox : Common sense would say 7 to 10. Anything more would be assaulting TP.

Alright. Let's see how it goes.

Quote from Favrerox : The one publicized with 2 Rocket Launchers?! Empty tubes that look scary!! Not functional [latimes.com] LAPD gets punked [beforeitsnews.com]

What was the point of your post?