[MaterDei]

I've been thinking. :cool:

Every time I see news about a gun buy back program I'm tortured to see people turning in some pretty nice firearms for meager sums of money. In essence, I see a wasted opportunity.

In the limited research I've seen, it appears that, on average, people receive $40 - $100 worth of cash, goods or services for their weapons.

I propose we have our own program. We could call it The First Annual THR Gun Buy-Back Program. We could hold it the city of our choice, preferably one that hasn't had a buy-back program in place so that there are more available unwanted guns in circulation.

On a volunteer basis, THRers interested in participating could contribute $500 each to the 'buy-back pool'. The pool of money would be used in part to advertise the event, to rent a facility, and to have a few rent-a-cops for security. All the remaining cash would be used to help find unwanted and unloved guns a nice home. We would require that the guns be in serviceable condition but have no other requirements. I propose that we pay...err... buy-back each weapon for $50.

At the end of the event we could post pictures and info of the bought-back guns online somewhere. We could then have a 'draft'. Each THR buy-back participant would, via a lottery of some sort, have a draft position. When your position in the draft came up you would be allowed to select one weapon. We would have as many rounds as we had weapons available. Assuming that overhead expenses ran about 20%, that would leave enough cash to buy-back 8 guns each participant.

Some of my limited buy-back research:

http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/childinjury/topic/firearms/buyback.htm
http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/police/public/releases/press0353.htm
http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/buy_back.htm

With a nice picture of the types of guns turned in at this event...

http://www.maricopa.gov/dist5/buyback.asp

[mattd]

I think this is called a pawn shop. I'll donate me 50 bucks for a over under shotgun, if you really do plan on doing it.

[bogie]

There have been cases of folks who've got FFLs who have set up to "give twice what the "buy back" folks are for "selected" firearms, usually setting up in the street outside. They're generally hassled rather severely.

[semf]

In Orlando they have "Kicks for Guns" every year sponsored by a local radio station ( usually comes a few months after their "Celebrity Shoot",where listeners pay to shoot skeet with local celebs for charity) A few years ago I gave my son an Excam .22 (both safeties broke, firing pin broke, mag lost, wouldnt feed anyway) to trade for $150 work boots.

Not bad Doc Martins for $10 worth of substandard gun parts in a small ugly package.

I've also been in the evidence room after one of these buybacks and the majority is crap.

[Mark Tyson]

Nice sentiment, but most of the guns people surrender at these buy back programs are junk guns. The good ones usually make it either to a museum.

[ballistic gelatin]

I like the idea!

[mattd]

You don't even need a ffl(in some states) for a "give twice what the "buy back" gives because you are only buying them and don't need a ffl.

[MaterDei]

They seem to think that all of our money belongs to them. I'm not surprised that they think all of our property does as well. :cuss:

[TarpleyG]

ALL YOUR GUNS ARE BELONG TO US!!!

GT

[MaterDei]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

I actually get it!

[ElToro]

here ya go mr. copper... a nice new gun... never shot, only dropped twice... just like yours! except i stole it in a burglary and used it to rape & rob last night.. but you said this was no questions asked, right ? wheres my 100$ grocery coupon...

i always find these amusing to say the least.. here in CA there is no such thing as a "legal" private party sale unless a FFL is holding the gun for 10 days. do these cops and other agencies have a FFL ? i think not likely... why are they given a pass ?

[MaterDei]

The whole amnesty component to the buy-back programs really irks me. Their idea of crime control is getting these evil guns off the streets, even at the expense of providing amnesty to those turning in the guns.

I wonder what would have happened if John Lee Malvo had turned in his rifle at a buy-back program somewhere...

[mattd]

You could prob work something out with the a police chief to buy back the guns with no serial numbers and keep the parts or something to get police support and if you got police support you got city support and then maybe even get some sponsors.

That 50 dollar food coupon = 25 in dollars = a nice rock.

[Standing Wolf]

Our hard-earned tax dollars at play.

[RocketMan]

After one of these "buybacks" the PTB usually say 200 or more guns were taken off the streets.
How come I never find a gun on the street? Some people have all the luck.
Darn.

[Blain]

Use it to turn in broke/worthless guns, then use the money to buy even better guns!