Calif City Swaps Gifts For Guns [merged threads]

[BenW]

Rats! I thought I was gonna have a place to go and swap any crappy Christmas presents I get for new guns.......

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051225/ap_on_re_us/gifts_for_guns

California City Swaps Gifts for Guns

By SANDY COHEN, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 12 minutes ago

"Big Daddy" Willis came to Compton to turn an illegal homemade pistol into Christmas dinner. Charlene Watt planned to turn three shotguns into a plasma TV.

The two were among dozens of gun-toting residents who converged on a shopping center parking lot Saturday to anonymously swap firearms for gift certificates as part of a program aimed at reducing violence in this crime-plagued city.

Each was rewarded with a $100 gift card for Circuit City or the Ralphs supermarket chain, the program's co-sponsors.

In a line that snaked across a parking lot, participants from across Los Angeles County carried guns in cardboard boxes, plastic grocery bags and fancy leather cases.

"Hopefully and prayerfully this will cut down on the shootings," said Compton resident Ruther Daniels, 44, who turned in a .22-caliber handgun.

Authorities created the program after a sharp spike in Compton's crime rate this year. Sixty-eight homicides have been recorded so far in 2005, up from 39 in 2004, according to sheriff's Capt. Eric Hamilton.

Over three consecutive Saturdays, sheriff's deputies amassed more than 250 firearms, including 185 handguns, 48 high-powered rifles, 15 sawed-off shotguns and a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol.

"The only reason you'd have these guns is to shoot at people," said sheriff's Deputy A.J. Rotella, who came up with the Gifts for Guns concept.

All will undergo ballistics checks to determine if they were used in crimes before being melted down at the sheriff's annual "gun dump."

Authorities said the gun exchange might become an annual program. It was funded by the city of Compton, Circuit City, Ralphs and the Sheriff's Department through its sale of assets seized in drug cases.

 

[Wheeler]

Time for a Circuit City boycott?

I have always hated the concept of these "Gun buy-back" progorams. It's hard to say how much Circuit City was involved, if this was a decision of a regional manager or a corporate decision. Apparantly they are proud enough of their involvement to have their name used by AP. Here's the link: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20051224/43acd5d0_3ca6_15526200512241929709802

"Hopefully and prayerfully this will cut down on the shootings," said Compton resident Ruther Daniels, 44, who turned in a .22-caliber handgun.

Was she planning on shooting someone herself? If so, perhaps she needs to seek some sort of profesional therapy in addition to getting rid of her blaster. She might become overwhelmed with the urge to shoot someone and go out and get another gun...

Over three consecutive Saturdays, sheriff's deputies amassed more than 250 firearms, including 185 handguns, 48 high-powered rifles, 15 sawed-off shotguns and a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol.

Odd that there were no low powered rifles, standard or non sawed off shotguns and what the he#% is a "semiautomatic machine gun pistol" anyway?

"The only reason you'd have these guns is to shoot at people," said sheriff's Deputy A.J. Rotella, who came up with the Gifts for Guns concept.

Ah yes, the authoratative LEO personage weighing in with his sage advice. The only reason you peasants would have guns would be to shoot at other peasants or maybe even at us cop-type folks. Give us your guns so we can better take care of you. No offense to the LEOs of this board. That's a hard attitude for me to swallow.

Wheeler

 

[Janitor]

Authorities created the program after a sharp spike in Compton's crime rate this year. Sixty-eight homicides have been recorded so far in 2005, up from 39 in 2004, according to sheriff's Capt. Eric Hamilton.

Well ... I don't know what your problem is. It sounds like they have it figured out to me ... it's the guns. MmmHmmm.

Now be quiet and drink your Kool Aid.
-

 

[madmike]

Yeah, guy turns one in, hoping it will "cut down on crime." So is he a criminal, a hypocrite, or just stupid?

And where can I find a...what was it? Ah, here: "Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol."

Is that like a Chevette Sport Utility Race Car?

Morons.

Somebody should have cut a deal with Bryco to take 1000 $39 wholesale .25s down in a truck

"The only reason you'd have these guns is to shoot at people," said sheriff's Deputy A.J. Rotella, who came up with the Gifts for Guns concept.

Gee. All mine are defective.

Morons.

:banghead:

 

[Standing Wolf]

Each was rewarded with a $100 gift card for Circuit City or the Ralphs supermarket chain, the program's co-sponsors.

I'm in need of a new microwave oven. It won't be from Circuit City.

 

[madmike]

I'd rather ask them to start one here.

AFTER I organize 40K people at the Indy 1500 Gun And Knife Show to line up with all their crap and BB guns

 

[Mugsy90/10]

Somebody should have cut a deal with Bryco to take 1000 $39 wholesale .25s down in a truck

My thoughts exactly...

 

[Standing Wolf]

Apparantly they are proud enough of their involvement to have their name used by AP.

I'll buy my new microwave oven elsewhere.

 

[Third_Rail]

"250 firearms, including 185 handguns, 48 high-powered rifles, 15 sawed-off shotguns and a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol"


SA MG pistol. Huh. High powered rifles? You mean... deer guns? Sawed off shotguns... you mean... 18.5" bbled shotguns?

 

[SIOP]

Damn, I thought for a second that if you brought a gift, they gave you a gun.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

damn.

someone needs to tell me these things. i can bring in like 100 junk guns worth about $25 each and make a killing!

 

[mr.trooper]

You Poor-Dumb Peasent! You OBVIOUSLY havent been indoctrinated properly!

Thats OK. A Quick vacation to Git-Mo, and youl be good as new!

 

[The-Fly]

any bets how many of these guns were stolen? Why not return them to their rightful owners? Just encourages crooks to steal even more guns.

 

[Lupinus]

Bet none of the serfs willing to give up their guns are being charged for carrying in public and illegal concealed carry

Maybe next they will drive to your house to pick it up for you, after all that many people together in one place with that many guns is a tragedy waiting to happen! Wait what do you mean no one was shot?

I mean all those evil semiautomatic machine guns! All in one place someone must have been shot since they have a mind of their own to kill everyone they come within range of.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I like to watch for the little things

Over three consecutive Saturdays, sheriff's deputies amassed more than 250 firearms, including 185 handguns, 48 high-powered rifles, 15 sawed-off shotguns and a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol.

185 + 48 + 15 + 1 = 249

Where are all the .22 rifles? Two options:

a) Gun #250 (and a few more for "over") was a .22 rifle
b) .22 rifles fall under the "high-powered" rifle category.


-MV

 

[stevelyn]

The lazy police department's way to avoid having to solve crimes.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Those who would trade liberty for a Circuit City gift card deserve neither.

I know I'll sleep easier knowing that Ruther Daniels has surrendered her 22 caliber handgun.

 

[Pilgrim]

"The only reason you'd have these guns is to shoot at people," said sheriff's Deputy A.J. Rotella, who came up with the Gifts for Guns concept.

By this reasoning, Deputy Rotella should be turning in his pistol for a gift certificate.

Pilgrim

 

[Rem700SD]

they really need to advertise this better; i'm thinking a couple manufactures' licenses, a few thousand cheap "sten" semi-autos with just enuff parts to pass for functional, maybe $2.50 in parts and labor....we could really clean up!

 

[El Tejon]

So, Deputy Roteya, if guns cause violence, why are you armed?

Disarm California cops, for the children!

 

[CAnnoneer]

Circuit City is officially added to my commie business boycott list.

 

[MDG1976]

I'd trade any one of my guns for an XBox 360 right now.

 

[pharmer]

"a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol." Man I'd hate to come up against one of those. Joe

 

[madmike]

"a Tec-9 semiautomatic machine gun pistol." Man I'd hate to come up against one of those. Joe

Now, refresh my memory. Is that a semiautomatic assault weapon of mass destruction rambo killing machine like Jay Rockefeller owns, or a super-accurate bolt action telescope sighted sniper assassin killing machine like Sarah Brady bought for her son?

:banghead:

And I'd assume "High powered rifles" include .22s and BB guns.

 

[SIGarmed]

What did you expect coming out of Compton, California? People that strive for independance and beleive in the Bill Of Rights? The city officials and LA County employee's are only doing it for themselves. They look at it as a way to insure a safer job.

It would see like some of these residents can't make a hard decision for themselves let alone realize that city officials and LA County can't protect them. It's a lot easier for them to be ignorant.

This is typical of the inner city mindset that our liberal freinds strive for.
Know thine enemy.