Cheap Gun Opportunity in Opa-locka Florida, June 2014

Gun Watch ^ | 13 February, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

  A sparse take at the City of Opa-locka Gun Turn In Event, January, 2014.

Photo  courtesey of miamitimesonline.com

There will be a gun turn in event in early June, 2014 in Opa-locka, Florida. While these events are commonly labeled with the propaganda term "buyback" the guns were never owned by the people attempting to buy them.

The location for the event has not been announced.  At the last turn-in event on 25 January, only eleven guns were turned in, as shown in the picture above.  This is a semi-annual event, and the numbers were much higher in 2012,  with 58 turned in in June, and over 100 turned in at the December 22nd event, shortly after the Sandy Hook tragedy.

I have not seen the incentives offered at the event, but they appear to be between $50 and $100, as a total of $800 was handed out for 11 firearms.  Perhaps they rounded off the numbers and handed out $75 each.  That would be $825 total.

These events offer Second Amendment activists the potential for picking up some firearms at reasonable prices.  The gift cards offered for firearms generally undervalue a significant number of the firearms turned in.   In this case, there appears to be a nice Smith & Wesson model 10, a Ruger semi-auto pistol, a sporterised Mauser rifle, and a M91 Carcano Cavalry Carbine that appears to be in original military configuration.

This event is labeled as a "no questions asked" event.  The possibility of stolen firearms seems a little higher than usual.  At most events, stolen guns are less than 1 percent of the total.  In the December, 2012 event, six stolen guns were recovered out of over 100 turned in. 

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.

You can help make the turn-in in your area more effective by standing on the curb with your "Cash for Guns" sign, or at a folding table, 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.

It also dispels the pernicious message that guns are bad and should be destroyed. 

Private sales are legal in Florida. Open carry of firearms is generally not legal, but it appears that brief displays of a firearm are accepted, if the display is not in a threatening manner.

Link to article with numerous examples of private sales at gun turn in events
 
Link to most recent article about private buyers at Detroit event

Link to Phoenix Article: pictures of private buyers

First hand accounts of this turn-in would be appreciated, as would any pictures.  Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch 

[marktwain]

In spite of rumors on the internet, buying a gun in good faith that turns out to be stolen is virtually never prosecuted. If anyone knows of such a case, please send me a reference. The worst likely outcome is that the gun would be returned to its lawful owner, and the buyer might forfeit the purchase price.

[RightOnTheBorder]

Since you are paying better than the gun grabbers you should feel no obligation to take the gun “no questions asked.” I know one guy (my mechanic) who bought a stolen gun in a private sale and I think he knew something was shady becuase he had the sherrifs run the serial number the night he bought it. Caused him some hassle with 5 sherrif deputies showing up at his door but otherwise no trouble beyound being out what he paid.

[yarddog]

Interesting collection of guns. Mostly cheap with a couple of exceptions.

Looks like a Carcano, a sporterized Mauser 93, an Arminius revolver, an H&R revolver, a Smith & Wesson model 10, an RG, a couple of odds and ends.

Does anyone know what the auto in the lower right is?

[marktwain]

Looks like a Ruger P95 to me.

[Fightin Whitey]

The Model 10 looks nice though I spose that’s a recent remake, right?

Still what a shame to throw it away at a carnival of fools like this.

[yarddog]

Around 15 years ago there was a flood of model 10 and similar S&W revolvers on the market as cops traded them in on Glocks.

I bought a Colt Official Police for $90 and I think it was the most accurate revolver I ever owned. It also had an unbelievably smooth action. At 25 yards, if I was really careful from a good rest, it would put a full cylinder of .38s into one large hole.

[yarddog]

I think you are right.

[RedMDer]

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[Fightin Whitey]

I grew up hunting with rifles and shotguns but we didn’t have much for handguns—my dad had an ‘automatic’ Luger-style .22 which I called the ‘electric’ pistol till I was about 10.

Some years ago I decided to get a carry permit etc. Waded into the semis ‘cause they were small and very cool. As time has passed I have moved away from them and toward revolvers, even for carry.

I appreciate your knowledge of the older revolvers. My move to the wheelguns came primarily ‘cause I always feel just a bit more sure that they will go off when I want them to, and they won’t when I don’t.

Thanks again...

[marktwain]

The Colt name attracted me when I was young. They made some nice revolvers. However, over time, I became a Smith & Wesson fan. I have never had a bad model 10 or 15, and I dozens have passed through my hands.

Those police turn ins are often very nice, with little shooting and lots of carry. I had many from the London police when they were switching over to Glock pistols. I paid (as a dealer) about $100 each. Model 10s with British proof marks and London Police armourer numbers stamped on them.

I am partial to the longer barrelled versions, which my older eyes appreciate. I think they are examples of some of the best of American gunmaking.