Illinois: "Aurora gun buyback draws fire"

[cuchulainn]

Ah, the entrepreneurial spirit

from the Chicago Sun Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-gun12.html

Aurora gun buyback draws fire

March 12, 2003

BY FRANK MAIN CRIME REPORTER

Police and gun control advocates are questioning the motives of a Downstate firearms dealer who is holding a four-day "buyback program" in Aurora.

Jeffrey Parsons, who obtained a federal license to buy and sell guns about two months ago, identifies himself as the spokesman for the International Gun Safety Council, the sponsor of the event.

Parsons said the group is offering a minimum of $25 per gun during the event, which starts today at the Best Western Fox Valley Inn and is scheduled to run through Saturday.

Promotional material for the buyback program describes it as providing a public service.

"Many people have rifles, handguns, war souvenirs just lying around," a flier says. "Many times these weapons are kept just because people do not know how to safely get rid of them. This program is a safe and efficient way to dispose of these items while being paid to do so."

Unlike law enforcement sponsored buybacks, however, Parsons resells guns that are in good working order.

Typically, buybacks that operate through police agencies destroy the weapons.

"What they are doing is not illegal," said Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. "However, the words 'gun buyback' imply this program has law enforcement associations, which is not the case. We feel their advertising for the event is misleading."

Thomas Mannard, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, was critical, too.

"Sounds like Jeffrey is trying to make a quick buck and masking it as a public service," Mannard said.

The group's promotional material cites Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan as running one of the most successful big city buyback programs. Sheriff's spokesman Bill Cunningham was unimpressed.

"He is obviously trying to capitalize on the success of our program," he said.

Parsons fired back, saying law enforcement sponsored buybacks let people dispose of guns without any questions asked, allowing criminals to get rid of weapons easily. Parsons said he checks the identification of anyone who offers to sell him a gun and keeps a record of his purchases.

"We voluntarily give a list of the guns to the local police department," he said. "If they happened to find a gun that was stolen or used in a crime, we would surrender it to the agency. We try to do what's right."

Parsons, of Downstate Athens, said he sells the guns primarily to enthusiasts. Because he is a federally licensed dealer, he is required to conduct a background check on each purchaser, he said.

Parsons contends he has not "made a nickel" from the buybacks, which have been held in Decatur and Alton. He said he hopes to buy 1,500 to 2,500 guns in Aurora.

"This is for people who safely want to get rid of a gun and get paid for it," he said. "You can see the relief in their eyes. They tell me, 'We have grandkids in the house, and we didn't know what to do with this gun. Thank you.' "

Copyright 2003, Digital Chicago Inc.

 

[Dave P]

Parsons contends he has not "made a nickel" from the buybacks, which have been held in Decatur and Alton. He said he hopes to buy 1,500 to 2,500 guns in Aurora.


Yeah, but I bet he has made plenty of dollars!
Actually, I kinda like this idea - maybe I'll try it here! I could offer maybe $50 for those old nasty military relics that the blue-hairs have stashed in their closets!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Kudos

Kudos to a the gun shop owner who had the insight to turn one of the anti-gunners' overhyped "programs" to his advantage.

The anti's claim to want guns out of the hands of criminals. Well, this guy is doing just that. Only he's going a step further in providing for the legitimate, legal purchase and use by law abiding Americans. I can't see where the anti's can b*tch about it (although they most certainly will).

Isn't capitalism grand!

Brad

 

[Drizzt]

(IL) A Different Sort of Gun Buyback...

Chicago Tribune

March 12, 2003 Wednesday, NEAR NORTHWEST FINAL EDITION

SECTION: Metro; Pg. 3; ZONE: NNW

LENGTH: 506 words

HEADLINE: Aurora staff bristles at gun event;
Officials upset that sponsor calls it a buy-back

BYLINE: By Hal Dardick. Special to the Tribune.

BODY:
An event beginning Wednesday in Aurora is billed as a "gun buy-back program," but city leaders fear the description may mislead residents about who is hosting the program.

Instead of a government-sponsored event that ends with the destruction of the weapons, this one sponsored by the International Gun Safety Council is a private venture that resells useable weapons and uses others for parts.

"In and of itself, the event is not illegal," police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said. "However, to call it a gun buy-back is certainly misleading because it implies some type of law-enforcement involvement. This is nothing more than someone buying firearms and selling them for profit."

Organizers say they are providing people with a safe, profitable way to dispose of unwanted firearms.

"We saw a need for people to safely get rid of these things," said Jeff Parsons, director of the Athens, Ill., organization staging the event that will run through Saturday at an Aurora hotel. "This program gives people an opportunity they are looking for."

Gun buy-back programs typically are sponsored by governments and law-enforcement agencies, which pay a small sum for unwanted weapons, which they then destroy. In 1994, Aurora conducted a gun buy-back program in which 256 weapons were purchased by the city for $50 each and then melted down.

The year-old council, which according to Parsons, has about 600 "gun-enthusiasts, gun collectors and hunters," says it "has helped thousands of people safely and responsibly get rid of all types of guns while receiving market value for those guns."

But the guns they buy are not melted down or destroyed. If they work or can be repaired, they are sold at auction to holders of valid firearm owner's identification cards with the approval of state police. Guns that can't be repaired are used for parts.

Any profits made from the auction are used to fund similar programs across the country, according to the group.

Though the organization holds a federal license to deal in firearms, and its program uses safeguards to ensure that weapons are sold to licensed gun owners, the program has made city officials uneasy.

Bill Catching, a spokesman for Mayor David Stover, said the event made Stover "uncomfortable."

Last month, the city Law Department sent a letter to the group saying, "gun buying and selling, even under the banner of a 'gun buy-back' program, is not an activity we would ideally like to see take place in our community unless it is a law-enforcement agency conducting such an event in order to collect guns for destruction."

Parsons said the concerns about using the term have arisen before. He said he plans to take it up with his board at its next meeting.

"If it's clouding the message, then let's get it out of there," he said. "I don't know that we need that."

But Parsons said the event was designed to help residents get rid of weapons. "There are some people who would rather see guns not be here and disappear," he added. "I don't think that's going to happen."

 

[seeker_two]

"What they are doing is not illegal," said Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. "However, the words 'gun buyback' imply this program has law enforcement associations, which is not the case. We feel their advertising for the event is misleading."

Funny. I don't remember anyone putting a copywrite on the term "gun buyback".

If things work out this weekend, I'll be doing my own "gun buyback" program to get a pistol out of the hands of those "evil gun dealers"...

 

[FPrice]

As long as he does it legally and ethically then I support his efforts. His "customers" are getting the same basic deal they would from the city or town but serviceable firearms are not being destroyed, they are being re-sold to legal buyers.

AND...he is not giving criminals a chance to dispose of evidence of a crime.

I never could quite figure out why some police departments would be willing participants in destroying possible evidence of a crime.

 

[Blackhawk]

Recycling guns. Works for me!

 

[Blackhawk]

Gun recycling.

As I said on Drizzt's thread, this works for me!

 

[Quartus]

I never could quite figure out why some police departments would be willing participants in destroying possible evidence of a crime.

Oh, that I had money for protracted legal battles. I'd try VERY hard to get some cops convicted for this complicity in crime.

 

[s&w 24]

I would gladly help anyone who wanted to have a "buy-back" program in MN.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Listen to how crazy these people have become--not only do they think it's rational to use "gun buybacks" to get guns off the street, but they think it's reasonable to demand that no one else buy guns!

 

[Don Gwinn]

"What they are doing is not illegal," said Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. "However, the words 'gun buyback' imply this program has law enforcement associations, which is not the case. We feel their advertising for the event is misleading."

No, sir, they don't. They imply that the original owner of the gun is buying it back from the current owner. That's why it's such a stupid name for your department's program, and that's just another reason why you shouldn't fool yourself that you own the term.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I love it!