Mexico City offers new computers for old guns

[NineseveN]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexicans are being invited to exchange their weapons for computers under a quirky new idea to curb rampant crime in Mexico City.


Authorities in one of the city's 16 districts are offering a new computer, out of 150 donated by a charitable foundation, for each gun handed in.

"People often have a gun at home, which could perhaps be for self-defense, but sadly it becomes a family tragedy when it is not used properly " Guadalupe Lopez, local government head for the central district of Alvaro Obregon, told Reuters.

Shootings are a daily occurrence in Mexico City, a sprawling megalopolis of 18 million people where muggings, carjackings and kidnappings are common.

The computers-for-guns program, which echoes past schemes in other city districts that offered groceries for guns, will target some of the district's most crime-hit areas, although collectors' items are also turning up.

"This used to be my father's. He died and left it to us, but we don't have any use for it," said Emilia Reyes, arriving with her young son to drop off an old-fashioned wooden dueling pistol. "It's better for him to have a computer in the house than a gun."

 

[lucky_fool]

I have a bunch of old computers in storage that I need to dispose of, I wonder if I should try the same thing?

 

[Manedwolf]

"This used to be my father's. He died and left it to us, but we don't have any use for it," said Emilia Reyes, arriving with her young son to drop off an old-fashioned wooden dueling pistol. "It's better for him to have a computer in the house than a gun."

!!!

I wonder what that was, and how many thousands of dollars it could have been worth. Mexico's police departments have a HUGE problem with corruption. Bet some grinning "officer" managed to "lose" it and sell it.

Computer probably worth a miniscule fraction of the gun's worth.

 

[El Tejon]

I love how the antis know how guns will be used for criminality but everything else in the universe is inert and harmless. Computers can be used for fraud, identity theft and child porn.

I say, fight crime, hand in a computer, get a gun.

 

[merk]

When they pulled that BS in Los Angeles a few months ago the CNN anchor listed a few of the weapons, something like "The police confiscated Sawed off shotguns, rifles, assault rifles, and a semi-automatic machine gun pistol"


I turned off the TV and stared at a wall.

 

[MD_Willington]

The only time a computer can go bang is in a game or if the capacitors pop off the mainboard... Not much of a trade.. Besides, what will they use to put down the computer once it has reached the end of its usefullness?

 

[wallysparx]

so, they started first with a groceries for guns program, then a computer for guns program. i'd say the best bet is to hold out for something better before handing over a jennings.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I turned off the TV and stared at a wall.

Books are better.

 

[ArmedBear]

"People often have a gun at home, which could perhaps be for self-defense, but sadly it becomes a family tragedy when it is not used properly "

True. If it isn't used to shoot one of Mexico City's many violent criminals, that's a crying shame.

 

[NineseveN]

Books are better.

Maybe Merk has some really nice walls?

 

[jeremywills]

when they say guns for gold then Ill consider it

hell ill hit up every pawnshop looking for el cheapo guns, good way to get rid of the crap firearms if you ask me LMAO

 

[Onmilo]

What does an old fashioned wooden dueling pistol use for projectiles??
Old fashioned round termites??