Tweet
A common complaint about Gun Buybacks is that it's Kabuki Theater.
*Criminals can dispose of crime guns without consequences.
*They have a tendency to attract the elderly and not the criminal.
*The majority of guns that are turned in aren't "illegal".
*Potentially valuable guns (historical or other) are often turned in by unwitting owners.
*Resources could be better used by targeting criminals.
Well, I think that ATF may have actually figured out a way to run a Gun Buyback that addresses all of those issues.
According to a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, ATF agents started up a shoe and jersey store called Tredz - and made it known that they'd trade merchandise for guns and drugs.
Further, the US Attorney stepped up to prosecute criminals under Federal Law because "federal penalties in those cases are much stiffer".
Instead of providing a $50 Target Gift card to Grandma for turning in her deceased husband's neglected Purdy shotgun, ATF traded a gangbanger a Raiders jersey for a stolen and most likely illegally carried Glock. And then they arrested him and will most likely send him to prison - killing two birds with one stone. Removing the illegal gun from commerce and removing the bad guy from the streets. And if they're smart, they'll recover the jersey.
Absolutely brilliant.
Kudos to ATF.
*Criminals can dispose of crime guns without consequences.
*They have a tendency to attract the elderly and not the criminal.
*The majority of guns that are turned in aren't "illegal".
*Potentially valuable guns (historical or other) are often turned in by unwitting owners.
*Resources could be better used by targeting criminals.
Well, I think that ATF may have actually figured out a way to run a Gun Buyback that addresses all of those issues.
According to a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, ATF agents started up a shoe and jersey store called Tredz - and made it known that they'd trade merchandise for guns and drugs.
Agents seized 70 firearms, 1,316 grams of cocaine, 768 grams of crack, 1,099 oxycodone pills, 215 ecstasy pills, 199 vicodin pills, 5 grams of heroin and 36 pills of Aprazolam.
Federal and Richland County prosecutors indicted 64 people who sold and traded guns and drugs to undercover agents who ran a bogus storefront in Mansfield for more than a year.
Federal and Richland County prosecutors indicted 64 people who sold and traded guns and drugs to undercover agents who ran a bogus storefront in Mansfield for more than a year.
Instead of providing a $50 Target Gift card to Grandma for turning in her deceased husband's neglected Purdy shotgun, ATF traded a gangbanger a Raiders jersey for a stolen and most likely illegally carried Glock. And then they arrested him and will most likely send him to prison - killing two birds with one stone. Removing the illegal gun from commerce and removing the bad guy from the streets. And if they're smart, they'll recover the jersey.
Absolutely brilliant.
Kudos to ATF.
Comment