What do you think about the gun “buy-back program” endorsed by many US cities including Las Angeles? Basically, residents are allowed to hand their own illegal firearms over to law enforcement and in turn, receive a “gift card.”
From the L.A. Times:
Back in March, an LAPD gun-buyback program that traded gift cards for firearms netted nearly 1,700 weapons, including 40 assault-style weapons and a rifle with a grenade launcher.The grenade launcher AR-15 rifle, which did not have a grenade in it, was delivered to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Topanga station over the weekend as officers across the city distributed gift cards in exchange for handguns, rifles and shotguns. The anonymous drop-off program netted AR-15s, Uzis and AK-47s.
I have yet to make up my mind on this issue. Nevertheless, I find it telling how so many illegal firearms end up in the hands of criminals in areas with strict gun-laws. It should remind all of us that regardless of how many restictions are enacted, criminals will still have access to illegal firearms and other weapons.
Anybody want to turn in a grenade-launcher?
- Marc
Buy-BACK? Last time I checked the government never owned these guns to begin with.
Everything I’ve read indicates that there has never been a measurable difference in gun crime as a result of such gun buyback programs. They’re not taking guns off the streets, they are taking them from closets and back rooms where they’ve sat for years collecting dust.
These programs give criminals a nice way to make a few bucks on the side – steal or otherwise illegally obtain cheap guns then let the government buy them with guarantees of immunity. It’s also a very safe way to get rid of a firearm that has already been used in a crime.
I think it’s also illegal for the government to wantonly destroy tens of thousands of dollars of assets (which they’ve already paid cash for) just to send some political message. These same guns, at least the safe and functional ones, could be legally sold for a nice profit (last time I checked LA wasn’t exactly in a good budget situation). Just taking the cash and burning it in the street would be as effective at decreasing crime, and less depressing than seeing good guns turned into rebar.
This is the only GUN CONTROL (LAW) needed: Anyone caught committing any crime using any type of firearm gets a minimum sentence of life in prison; if anyone dies in the commission of a crime where a firearm was used the shooter gets the death sentence!
No exceptions. carrying a gun is a choice as is committing a crime. If you make both choices you do so knowing that you WILL BE punished and there is no dought what that punishment will be. No plea bargains allowed so all hope is lost before you make the choice.
All gun activist should agree with that Gun Control law if it is the ONLY gun control. But the truth is that gun control is just what it sounds like; The ability for certain people to know where every gun is so they can collect them when the people decide we need to protect ourselves from the government when they decide to walk over our rights.
Every person of voting age should be able to buy any gun on the open market without any more effort than needed to buy cigarettes, or alcohol.
@Jared
Welp, can’t argue with reason, can you? Good points all, Jared.