Gun Turn In "buy-back" Programs Do Not Work

[Dean Weingarten]

I contend that the purpose of the programs is primarily symbolic, to delegitimize gun ownership and armed citizens, to condition the public to the idea of the legitimacy of turning guns over to the government and of the government destruction of guns.



Guns Turned In at Recent Phoenix Gun Turn In Event

In an article from the Times Herald, Carl Rotenberg writes:

Academic studies of gun buy-back programs have concluded they are ineffective at reducing gun violence in the limited number of communities where they are held.

Criminals rarely turn in guns used in crimes, and if they do turn in one gun, they keep other guns, the studies show.

The guns turned in at anonymous gun buy-back programs are either old or generally of poor quality.

But the major problem with gun buy-back programs is that the relatively small number of guns collected by these programs does not materially reduce the large gun stock in the U.S. or even keep up with the annual increase in American gun ownership.

The major problem is not that these programs do nothing to reduce crime. Rather it is the use of official resources to directly attack a fundamental, constitutionally protected right, without using the legitimate process of calling for an amendment to the Constitution. By attacking the Constitution in this way, directly contrary to their oath of office, officials are severely undermining the rule of law.

Dean Weingarten

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/gun-turn-in-buy-back-programs-do-not.html

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The National Research Council summarizes research on "gun buy backs" here:
National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council,
"Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review" (2004)
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10881&page=95

My summary of their findings on these events is:
(a) most persons turning in guns don't match the profile of perpetrators of gun violence,
(b) most guns turned in don't match the profile of crime guns, and
(c) it unlkely these programs prevent many crimes.

Many people in line are persons who have inherited a gun in which they have no interest; they would be better aided if they took the gun to a dealer and put it on consignment sale. The gun would be "off the streets", more likely to end up in the hands of a legitimate user, and very often the uninterested owner would get more money.

The 2011 stats in the "Guns in America" series highlighted 114 million handguns and 6,220 handgun homicides; one of 18,000; so to net one potential murder weapon a buyback would have to net 18,000 handguns. Since long guns--rifles and shotguns--are even less likely to be used in murder: 196 million long guns, 679 long gun murders, the ratio becomes one of 288,000 long guns. No gun buyback nets 18,000 handguns or 288,000 long guns, but that does not stop the sponsors from musing about how many lives those events save. The money on spendt on those events would be better spendt on training or equipment for the local police.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Not to mention the "substitution" effect. Criminals tend to value fireams very much, because they facilitate their crimes. Therefore, they will be some of the last disarmed, which means that you will have to reduce the available stock by 99+ percent to have an appreciable effect on crime rates.

This is impossible in practice, which is why all the studies see no effect on crime rates from "gun control" programs.

 

[Mousegun]

But buy back programs sure do make the antis feel good.

 

[MErl]

I contend that the purpose of the programs is primarily symbolic, to delegitimize gun ownership and armed citizens, to condition the public to the idea of the legitimacy of turning guns over to the government and of the government destruction of guns.

came here to say exactly this. This is the only reason they are done. It is advertising the message that guns themselves are evil and must be destroyed. Cheap advertising when one counts how the news repeats it.

Sure someone can be found that really believes they help but the ones doing the funding know exactly what they are buying. When the buybacks evolve into buying back toys at schools its obvious to anyone what the real purpose is.

 

[Sniper66]

And the sad fact is, it's working. In many families kids are being scolded if they point a finger at another child and say "bang". Water pistols are almost forbidden. When is the last time you saw a cap pistol? All such toys are banned from schools and banned in many families. No surprise to anyone who bothers to think, it has no demonstrable effect on those who do violence to others. Sad. Very sad.

 

[SuperNaut]

A program where criminals can dispose of guns used in crimes with no repercussions?

What could go wrong?

 

[OptimusPrime]

All I see are a pile of deer rifles and old shotguns. Have there been a tremendous amount of 30-30 or 16 gauge crimes?
They could have a bong buyback program that would eliminate more crimes than this.

 

[ID-shooting]

All I see are a pile of deer rifles and old shotguns. Have there been a tremendous amount of 30-30 or 16 gauge crimes?
They could have a bong buyback program that would eliminate more crimes than this.

If you look to the top about 3 or 4 guns in is a 10/22. While not all that fancy, beat up one are going for ~ $300 here locally. That one looks decent. Bet he could have gotten much more than the "buy back" gave him.

 

[beatledog7]

...buy back programs sure do make the antis feel good

^^ Can anyone think of a better reason to kill such programs?

 

[herrwalther]

All those dangerous weapons. Glad to see they are off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. {/sarcasm}

I couldn't even type that with a straight face. Sitting outside a gun turn in program with $1000 in small bills or so would probably be more productive than going to a gun show. Don't have to pay an entrance fee or parking.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I know for sure that in local " Buy Back" programs, connected "authorities" and others sifted through the collection and retrieved the good stuff like Smiths,Colts,Rugers and several war trophies such as Walthers and Lugers before the guns went to the blast furnace. Model 12 Winchesters and early Remingtons also survived as did some early double shotguns.
I'm convinced that this happens often.
Symbolism at it's greatest but still corrupt .

 

[W.E.G.]

Sure they do.

I bought a used Jennings .22 for $49.

I messed around with it for while, and eventually broke it even more than it was broke when I bought it.

I sold it to the DC Police Department for $100.

Works for me.

 

[Ryanxia]

This is why whenever you hear of a local gun "buy-back" (which they never owned in the first place) everyone needs to setup their own signs outside of the area it's happening and offer to purchase some of the nicer guns. Then we at least get something out of this attack. It's happened in many places, and even if private sales are illegal in your state, if it's a $600 gun maybe it's worth to ask the owner to do a transfer at your local gunshop.