There's been another "gift cards for guns" event, this time in Compton CA, ostensibly to "take guns off the street," which is the mantra we hear repeated ad nauseum by anti-gunners, "Only Ones," and of course, their "Authorized Journalist" cheerleaders. This time, there was a surprise.
From the Los Angeles Times:
But they were surprised at the man who pulled up in an SUV with 58 guns -- mostly small handguns but also some assault weapons. Dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, the mystery man offered his cache in a nonchalant fashion.
As is the policy for such events, the deputies asked no questions and eagerly took the guns. They don't know the man's name, and the donor declined to comment to The Times.
And the police reaction?
"There were a lot of the kind of weapons used in robberies. We don't know his identity. We don't know if he is gun dealer or what. But that is 58 guns off the street."
KTLA "reporter" Jim Nash was positively giddy.
"Everybody likes this program!" he gushed, presuming gun owners who know better don't exist, and endorsing, rather than investigating and questioning. "It gets these guns off the street!"
"That sure is a great idea!" anchor Frank Buckley chimed in, grinning enthusiastically.
Watch these media bobbleheads for yourself:
I know it's supposed to be "no questions asked," but here are some questions Jim, Frank, and the LA Sheriffs Department ought to be answering:
We keep hearing these guns are being "taken off the street." That implies they are being carried by criminals to commit violence with. What evidence is there that violent criminals--the hard core gangbangers who have helped turn Compton into such a Paradise on Earth-- turn in guns for gift certificates?
If, on the other hand, these are "unwanted guns" being removed from homes, then they're not "on the street." If someone turns in a gun because they've been convinced by the proponents of these exchanges that it's the safe thing to do, will the Sheriff's Department establish a legal special relationship with them and assume a duty to protect them--with attendant liability should they fail?
What generally happens with evidence when the chain of custody is broken? If someone wanted to dispose of a "murder weapon"--no questions asked--won't the ability to tie him to it now be inadmissible in court?
Is it a good idea to offer financial incentives to bring in guns to persons who may not know anything about them, including how to check if they are loaded, or how to safely handle and transport them? If someone gets hurt or worse, could the act of clearing the weapons by the deputies establish that the Sheriff's Department knew, or should have known, serious injury and death could result from untrained gun handling, and yet they encouraged it anyway?
What does California law say about transporting guns in vehicles? Doesn't it require they be in a locked trunk or locked container? Didn't sworn law enforcement personnel witness numerous violations of the law and not do anything about them? And if so, does that mean the law really does not contribute to public safety?
We're sure the people turning these guns in aren't "prohibited persons"?
What concrete steps have been taken to make sure an incentive for more crime has not been created by offering a safe "no questions asked" market for stolen guns?
Back to crack TV investigator Jim:
It's all good.
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Meanwhile, back at the Hartford gun "buy back"...
After I established Kohl's Department Stores were not partners in the Hartford CT holiday "buy back" (yeah, I know the term is absurd), and then contacted the reader representative of The Hartford Courant, they issued this correction (see bottom of editorial):
This article was corrected Dec. 17: Kohl's Department Stores is not a partner in a gun buyback program.
Comments
How many of these guysturned in old crappy guns and then used the gift cards to go buy new ones?
Looks like an incentive to steal guns and turn them in for cash.
How many of these guns will be returned to their owners if they've been stolen?
I'd like to know how many of these guns were previously used in crimes. How many of the stolen ones will be returned to their rightfull owners. (Yea right)
Well, one things for sure, they have done an excellent job of laundering them. Criminals world wide can rejoice at not having to worry about tossing them in the river now.
If you wanted an example of community leaders posturing in front of the media while acomplishing nothing more involved than wasteing money you could not do any better than a gun "buy back" program.
Does anyone know of a community that has seen any positive trend in their crime numbers as a result of one of these?
Gosh, I wonder how we can organize a knife "buy back" program. I've got a drawer full of old, ugly and pretty much useless knives. I'd love to get a "gift card" for each one of them... provided they didn't steal the money from me and my neighbors first, of course.
Another source showed close ups of what appeared to be a shopping cart full of battered things that looked kind of like AR-15 or M-16's--Couldn't tell which, since they had no safety or fire control switch, and no mag release, and apparently no place to put those parts.
The one thing about a gun buy back that always burns my behind is that there’s always some old women that’s broke so she takes hers husband’s guns and turns them in for pennies of what they’re really worth.
To me this is criminal to take advantage of some old women to stupid to know what she has.
David here’s a new year’s resolution that you can add to your list “Explain to your family members that your guns are not junk and should NOT be sold for pennies on the dollar at some gun turn in”
Wives and older children need to know what your families’ guns are worth and how to legally dispose of them if the need arises.
Better yet teach them to appreciate how they need to guns and ammo to survive in the New America
Thank goodness we got those 14 dangerous movie props off the street. We wouldn't want any of The Children© running around, yelling *bang* at each other in a Zero Tolerance Zone.
Sounds like KALAFORNIA to me
Lets not forget that every transfer of owership at these so called buy backs is a violation of Calif State law.
Nice of the officers to demonstrate that they are excempt from the very laws the rest of us are supposed to obey!
The turn out (or turn in) for this event was mostly from people outside of Compton. In a year where Compton is ranked 12th most dangerous city in America, programs like this are questionable at best, in regards to deterring/reducing violent crime. In comparison to some other cities (Boston, Watts, etc etc) efforts at reducing gang violence, Compton continues to fall short. The city pays the sheriff a hefty contract for their services and residents see no collaboration between the two when it comes to making the city safer. On the day of this event, the city sponsored a "Cease Fire" breakfast for organizations that are peace advocates. Only problem is, Compton is still ranked 12th most dangerous in America. Bottom line is until there is collaboration amongst the various entities that run and police Compton, the violence will continue.
HubCityLivin'
I always have to laugh at the "giddy" reporters who are drooling over the number of guns turned in at these events and spouting that the streets are now safer because all these "evil guns" are off the streets. These are the same reporters who expressed disgust at the gentleman carrying an AR-15 near where Obozo was going to appear calling the man a racist. Oddly enough, they NEVER showed his face or uncovered part of his body, just zeroed in on the weapon. This man was black, as it was shown on later news reports.
Hmmm. So if it turns out some of the weapons turned in were stolen, does that make the various police departments guilty of receiving stolen property? After all, they paid for them.
Notice the cops drooling over the take? I wonder how many of those guns now "off the street" wind up in an Only One's private collection.
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