In New Jersey, at least one paper is questioning the value of gun “buy backs” and ponders whether the incentives are wrong for criminals.
But are we sending the wrong message to criminals who want to earn a fast buck with the sale of illegal firearms?
In some jurisdictions, people are allowed to turn in up to three handguns for $200 each, according to news reports.
One must ask, are we – as law-abiding citizens who obtain our weaponry through legal means – at risk of having our homes, offices and businesses burglarized by criminals who intend to make a couple of hundred dollars at a gun buyback program?
We’d like to know if there is data showing a rise in gun thefts that correlates to buyback programs, and whether the guns purchased at buyback programs have been stolen from homes and businesses.
Wow, I actually agree with them. If you have an illegal gun or for some reason feel the need to dispose of a firearm (probably most are non-functional), why should you be paid for it?
I agree that (among the junk) there are some guns that collectors would covet.
Sorry, I guess you said it in the “Fr Snuffy’s Gun buyback” post.
Aside from a waste of public funds the problem I see with buy-backs is that in some cases it looks like a pretty good way to dump a gun that’s been used in a crime.