Gun snitch and 'buyback' programs may cause unintended consequences

June 25, 9:14 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

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  Courtesy Oleg Volk, A Human Right

West Palm Beach police are rewarding residents for turning in people with guns:

Under a new program announced this morning, anyone who spots people packing heat in West Palm Beach can call Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers anonymously and could receive a $500 reward.

I've been over this ground before. Lt. David Bernhardt's hopes that "this will help to alleviate the violent crime" notwithstanding (it won't), it has the potential to result in unintended consequences.

Like what?

How about this, speculating on a similar program in New York:

If I'm a drug dealer and I want to eliminate the competition, why not let New York's finest do the job for me? Chances are, my rivals will be packing, so I'll not only get them busted, but I'll collect a cool grand per head. And if I'm really lucky, maybe one or more of them will go for their waistbands and I can get the cops to take 'em out for me.

Or what if I'm just mad at somebody? What if some bum has stolen my girl or I think a guy ripped me off or I'm just a creep who wants to victimize someone for the twisted hell of it? This would be a pretty sweet way of doing that, wouldn't you say? Sic the cops on 'em, maybe get 'em killed, and remember: even the police won't know who I am. Forget the reward. Besides, maybe I can take pictures of the action and sell them to The Daily News.

Or what if I'm one of those policemen Commissioner Kelly doesn't trust? What if I have no probable cause for a search warrant, but I don't want to let the Fourth Amendment get in my way any more than the Second does in NYC? Why not just call in the tip myself, and enjoy a toll-free bypass around the Constitution?

But heck, aside from those reasons, along with potential Sixth Amendment (right of accused to be confronted with witnesses) considerations, the plan looks like it could work.

If by "work" we mean create a snitch-based police state...

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Out of pocket

Another useless exercise I've commented on for years is the misnamed gun "buyback." Well, they're having one in Central Falls, and the way its being funded creates a potential violation of state law:

Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau is offering $50 of his own money for each gun, rifle or shotgun turned in during a gun buyback scheduled for Saturday at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility’s training center.

Aside from the fact that these ridiculous programs do nothing to reduce violent crime, render good people defenseless, reinforce the "Only Ones" meme, and create an opportunity for disposing of "crime guns" (no questions asked!), how could that run afoul of the law?

They'll probably say it doesn't, because he's buying the guns on behalf of the...who is he "straw buying" them on behalf of? I just find it curious that Mayor Moreau assumes authority to privately fund gun purchases--no matter what the reason--and forgo Rhode Island state law on applications, approvals, training and waiting periods.

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Bride of Brady Update

From Oregon Firearms Federation:

HB 2853 has advanced beyond its last committee hearing in the full Ways and Means Committee and will now go to the floors of the House and Senate...

Even if you have already contacted your own Senator and House Rep, please let them know one more time that you don't want the Feds meddling with the gun rights of Oregonians.

Time is very short. This bill could reach the floors of the House and Senate literally at any moment.

Click here for more details.

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Farewell

I note with sadness the passing of Joe Horn.

I've known him through the Internet for many years, and collaborated with him to produce the Physician Qualification and Liability Form, designed to make doctors reconsider asking intrusive questions and dispensing unqualified advice regarding firearms.

We were in pretty regular communication over the past several months, which may surprise some readers. After all, Joe was a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy, and I have incorporated "The Only Ones Files" as a regular feature in my work.

Differences were never an issue between us, and I'm grateful for that, because he was quite a formidable guy, who possessed great intellect and wit, and who would not suffer fools. He did a lot of great work to promote your and my right to keep and bear arms, much of it behind the scenes, and some of it, that I know about first-hand, requiring personal risks.

He was a brave man, one I respected and learned a lot from. I pray his family will find comfort in knowing how many people would say the same thing.