Help make gun turn-ins (buybacks) effective

[Dean Weingarten]

Picture of Several long guns and pistols

You can help take valuable guns like these off the street.

Across the country, communities, police departments and churches are sponsoring gun turn-ins to get "guns off the street". At many of these events, private buyers are showing up, offering cash for the more valuable guns. These private additions to the public turn-in are effective, no doubt, in getting more guns off the street, because they add to the resources that are available to those who want to get rid of guns for something of value, be it a grocery card or a number of twenty dollar bills. These private efforts are often hampered by lack of parking space, intimidation by police officers, and ignorance of the people turning in the guns, as many fear the transaction might be illegal.

You can help make the turn-in in your area more effective! When one is announced, simply let those running the event know that you are willing to help. Instead of standing on the curve with your "Cash for Guns" sign, offer to stand with the police inside the event, and be willing to offer more than the gift card for firearms that are more valuable. It would be best if numerous private parties were available, as more good guns could then be transferred into responsible hands.

This action serves many useful purposes. It stretches the turn-in budget so that more guns can be taken off the street. It helps keep fearful widows from being defrauded of most of the market value of the gun they are turning in. It prevents valuable assets from being destroyed by bureaucratic inflexibility. It is a win-win-win situation.

Be sure to make the offer in a public way. It would be good if a letter with the offer were published on the web and in the local paper. It is hard for me to see how this offer could be turned down in good faith.

Please let us know the results of this approach.

Dean Weingarten

©2013 by Dean Weingarten Permission to share granted as long as this notice is included.


http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/help-make-gun-turn-ins-buybacks.html

 

[Dean Weingarten]

I think the pistol on the left is a Glock

Any thoughts on identifying the other guns would be appreciated.

 

[Vector]

When I see some of the nice guns that are turned in for $25-$50 that will ultimately be destroyed, I have thought about trying to find a way to buy a few before they are turned in. However my biggest reason for not going to these gun buy backs is they are typically held in crime ridden parts of town. In some cases they are in no white zones as well.

So I just cringe when I see a few quality firearms that will be going into the crusher.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

All the more reason to be inside with the police when you make the offer

The police should be happy to have you help stretch their turn in budget.

What possible reason could they have for turning down your help?

 

[MErl]

What possible reason could they have for turning down your help?

they want those evil guns destroyed. Your hands are still the wrong hands.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Make them say it

Make them take the mask off. No reason to destroy nice legal firearms. Force them to show their irrationality.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I think in Florida, it's against the law to try and interfere with a gun buy-back by offering to buy guns. An officer in Central Florida who is responsible in part for arranging the things says cops will chase off potential private purchasers. Plus a lot of these buy backs are in the worst neighborhoods so I wouldn't really want to stand around to buy a gun that more likely than not will be a piece of junk.

If anyone knows different about Florida please share.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Police often say things are illegal that are not

Private sales are legal in Florida.

A couple of counties have required a three day wait for sales at gun shows.


http://www.tampabay.com/news/localg...move-toward-closing-gun-show-loophole/1271745

 

[AethelstanAegen]

The police should be happy to have you help stretch their turn in budget.

But they won't be...which is why they often intimidate the private guys on the street. Maybe you'd be able to convince them to allow some FFLs in but it would take some pretty strong convincing to the higher ups. In theory, it's a great idea, I just don't see most PDs (especially the ones that would do a buy back) going along with the idea.

 

[MedWheeler]

..so I wouldn't really want to stand around to buy a gun that more likely than not will be a piece of junk.

Or that is stolen, or otherwise connected to a crime.

That being said, I know of no law in Florida that prohibits attempting to purchase firearms being brought to a "buy-back" event.

Perhaps, upon hearing of an upcoming event, it would be a good idea to put the word out that people interested in surrendering a firearm there could contact you beforehand and let you know what they have..

 

[hso]

What's to stop us from organizing a gun purchase so the Antis can't destroy perfectly good firearms that should be treasured? We could get rid of the junk and see the good stuff go to good homes.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Most of the money for the "junk" comes from corporate donations or public funds...

Maybe you could get Amazon to come up with gift cards.... Make it $50, that would get rid of the junk.