Actually, I beg to differ. There are at least 6 to 7 gunowners who will be reunited with their formerly stolen and missing firearms as a result of a recent gun buyback program that was privately sponsored in the Seattle area last month. This has already stopped future crimes involving those firearms, in that they are no longer stolen property for whoever is holding them.
I have no problem with privately sponsored programs that focus on providing an incentive and amnesty for people to turn in stolen or illegal firearms, provided any stolen firearms are returned to their rightful owners. I would rather see guns that are legal for circulation offered back to the public in an auction or something similar, but as much as it is a shame to see them destroyed, they were bought and paid for voluntarily
If it weren't for the unfortunate comments by the owner detailing his lack of regard for the end destination of the recovered firearms, I would have seen it as a good thing that a "buyback" program were overseen by a pro-gun entity, who could take the opportunity to offer education and information to people with regards to their firearm or firearms in general. With five minutes of instruction and oversight you could do a lot to help someone understand the unwanted gun that they have... its history, its significance, etc... offer them some range time and a good price on a firearms class....
I see "buyback" programs as an opportunity to weed out and tip some people from being uninterested gun owners to interested gun owners. They already own the gun.
I just wish his comments showed a focus on recovering and preserving instead of disregard.