Buying guns at a gun buyback

[LawScholar]

The problem is, most police officers are uninformed of the laws and overly arrogant.

As a family member of many pro-gun police officers, I strenuously object to that statement. Bad experieinces with a handful of police do not entitle a person to generalize the majority of LEOs as "uninformed" and "arrogant"

 

[earlthegoat2]

Object all you want but generally speaking most police are either uninformed or act the part. This is coming from someone who has 2 siblings and three other family members as police officers. I know more about guns, laws, and shooting then all of them combined.

Yes, arrogant is not the correct word to use. That implies something else entirely unrelated to knowledge of the law.

 

[LawScholar]

EDIT: I had a large argument written and submitted, but I'm bowing out of this one now. My father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and close friend are all dedicated, well-educated, pro-gun police officers and I do not believe I will be able to maintain emotional objectivity or keep things The High Road if this goes any further. Also, I don't want to divert from the OP's thread about the legality of buyback purchases.

 

[DammitBoy]

Over 50% of the officers in that video were uninformed and arrogant. In fact they were abusive without warrant.

Not hard to find videos of that kind of behavior all day long.

 

[Sgt.Murtaugh]

even if you were to go down there and challenge the menacing LEO's who try and stop your purchase, what recourse would you have against those LEO's even if you were in the right?

None. The APD (or any PD for that matter) is not gonna do a damn thing about it if you file complaint against the cops for stopping a perfectly legal handgun purchase.

 

[jon_in_wv]

That video is just affirmation of why you DO NOT live in areas like Detroit, New York , Philadephlia, Baltimore, California, or other abusive police states.

 

[danprkr]

Heck, just go down with fliers and a blue book, and offer free appraisals. Might make them think twice before turning in a $1000 gun for a $100 bucks.

 

[danprkr]

Another thought though I'd bet the church hosting the event would be more than happy to ask the cops to escort you off the property under trespassing laws. With that in mind plan on setting up on either public property or adjacent. But I'm guessing APD will utilize trespassing to harass you. I wish I could be there, but I'm not going to be able to make it. Next time hopefully I'll find out in time to arrange my schedule accordingly.

 

[Panzercat]

Heck, just go down with fliers and a blue book, and offer free appraisals. Might make them think twice before turning in a $1000 gun for a $100 bucks.

HA! That's an awesome idea! Likewise, venues through which they can realistically sell their firearm, too. You aren't soliciting. You might even get some unsoliscited offers in the process. Love that.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Actually, someone should challenge the legality of these buybacks, it seems to me a lot of state and federal laws are being broken.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I would make a LARGE sign that says
"Please Don't let the Police ROB you
stop by for a FREE appraisal"

 

[wildlifeclyde]

I paid $35 for an old beat up single shot .22 a while back and I've been contemplating hauling it down to cash in. Last year, I thought about the same thing but I didn't think I could stand there watching guns worth more than 100 bucks be turned over to be destroyed. This year my economic situation has me thinking a little harder about it.

The local news here in Austin has reported in a "surprised manner" that none of the guns turned in at the last buy back program had a criminal background. I seriously doubt there are too many criminals looking to get $100 in groceries for something they could probably sell to a partner in crime for a lot more.

As for trying to buy some of these guns from individuals, I doubt I would want to pull that around the officers from this area. I was pulled over for having a headlight out not long ago, when I presented my CHL to the officer he got pretty wound up about it even after stating that I wasn't carrying at the time. He asked me at least three times (in a not so friendly aggressive tone) if I had a weapon in the car the first time with his hand on his sidearm. I was so caught off guard from even being pulled over that I didn't think about what had happened until after I was driving off, then it took me about a week to cool off. I was kinda glad we were in the wife's car, I don't know what he'd have done if we were in my truck and I'd have said I had several.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

"Please Don't let the Police ROB you
stop by for a FREE appraisal"

I like this idea!

 

[rr2241tx]

This is going down in Austin, nothing of what you know of the law is of any use to you. Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo and his goon squad sent a known Mexican Illegal WITH a Texas Driver's License to buy a legal FTF gun and in spite of that and the fact that the stoolie admitted in discovery that the seller did everything right, there is an innocent man now convicted of a felony. None of the officers of APD nor BATFE who violated numerous laws in this case nor the illegal alien ever got so much as a slap on the hand.

APD will absolutely sweep the streets with both uniformed and undercover officers and if it was MY hide on the line, I would not trust anyone offering to sell me anything in the vicinity of the buyback. It is a real shame that some people are so ignorant and scared by disinformation spewed by the liberals in Austin and some beautiful guns will be either destroyed or siphoned off by unscrupulous persons as a result but that is the situation in Austin today.

Being legal and right in Austin won't do you one iota of good if APD decides you are in their way. You HAVE been warned.

 

[Danb1215]

This appraisal idea is the best of both worlds. I'm not necessarily looking to buy anymore guns but it would be a fun/rewarding day helping the public not get ripped off by the department running the buyback, and informing people of other ways that they could legally sell the weapons probably for much more money.
As far as criminals showing up with stolen guns or guns used in a crime it doesn't make much sense in terms of criminal economics. There aren't any handguns made that would sell for less than $100 cash on the street, never mind that the buyback is paying in $100 of groceries. Hence these buybacks mainly appeal to the old widows or people that don't know anything about guns but just don't want one they inherited sitting around their houses.

Any thoughts on where we can find a wider listing of any such events? If I can find one within 100 miles I'll be there with a sign and at least one price reference book.

 

[41]

Make 100% sure that you follow all FTF laws to the letter, including checking the persons' license for age, residency, etc.

What would their age matter for a FTF buy, and if it is a long gun why would you need to know their residency?

 

[Samsonite]

What would their age matter for a FTF buy, and if it is a long gun why would you need to know their residency?

In Texas, you must be a resident of the State of Texas to purchase firearms. You must be 18 years of age to buy a rifle/shotgun and 21 years of age to buy a handgun. Same with ammunition.

 

[nwilliams]

I'm not sure I'd want to take possession of any guns being brought to a gun buy back. My guess is most of the guns are going to be junk, stolen or used in a crime or all three.

I like the sign idea. However I would only offer to buy guns from people if they were willing to sign a receipt with the serial number of the gun and copy of their drivers license. The last thing I'd want is to take possession of a stolen gun or one used in a crime, when I sell privately I'm very cautious of who I'm willing to sell to or buy from. I'd be especially cautious if I were buying a gun from someone at a gun buy back.

 

[jumpdog789]

I like this idea!

I agree. I have a friend that is an APD officer. I am going to ask him if he knows of any other way to possibly purchase any guns that are turned in.

 

[Danb1215]

I'm not sure I'd want to take possession of any guns being brought to a gun buy back. My guess is most of the guns are going to be junk, stolen or used in a crime or all three.

I would imagine that if the person bringing the gun is not a thug trying to get quick cash of some stolen property then they are probably anti-gun and of the mindset that they are doing society a favor by turning in a gun, a person like this is very unlikely to sell said gun to someone who just walks up and offers them cash for it. If a person has any respect for guns at all then they would take it to a gun shop and get rid of it or sell it privately, they would not take their gun to a buy back.

There have been several of these events where not a single one of the guns collected were stolen/used in a crime. As I posted previously these events draw people who have guns (usually from someone else) lying around the house and they have no use for them. You might be on to something in that many of the people that would show up at a buyback event would be hesitant to sell to someone on the street, as they assume its illegal. That's why I think the appraisal approach is the best idea; inform the public how they are being ripped off and provide business cards of local shops/collectors that might be willing to pay fair market value and not a $25 olive garden gift card for in many cases $500+ guns.

 

[41]

In Texas, you must be a resident of the State of Texas to purchase firearms. You must be 18 years of age to buy a rifle/shotgun and 21 years of age to buy a handgun. Same with ammunition.

Ok that's pretty similar to the laws here in Alabama for a FFL purchase, but we have much laxer laws for FTF purchases.

 

[NMGonzo]

What can I say, I love my State of New Mexico.

 

[EddieNFL]

Originally Posted by Pronghorn
The problem is, most police officers are uninformed of the laws and overly arrogant

.

As a family member of many pro-gun police officers, I strenuously object to that statement. Bad experieinces with a handful of police do not entitle a person to generalize the majority of LEOs as "uninformed" and "arrogant"

I know cops who strenuously agree with that statement.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Hey, Offering to read out of the blue book of gun values will get less flack than carrying a sign, and with a business card, a well cut, PROFESSIONAL demeanor, the LAW sitting on a clip board that has a COVER SHEET that says 'Texas Gun Statues'

I think you would get alot more flys to honey than
Jimbob and 'Ol Bill hang out on their pick up saying, 'I'll buy er, and pay you more too'

Oh and for the cops, an OBVIOUS camera helps too, and so does the not so obvious when they break the first.

 

[ultradoc]

Nice idea and I hope it goes well for you. Also the video was very imformative. Don't know if it would help to go to the owners of the property and ask them if you could do this. The video was at a church and if it was at my church I would say that I get first dibs.