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Gun buybacks a noble idea that always misfires
Oakland Tribune ^ | 25 feb 08 | Alex Tabarrok

Posted on 02/25/2008 5:08:27 PM PST by rellimpank

On Feb. 9, Oakland police, led by state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, offered to buy handguns and assault weapons for $250 each, "no questions asked, no ID required." The "One Less Gun" buyback program attracted so many eager sellers that the money quickly ran out, but instead of closing up shop, the police handed out IOUs good for a future buyback. The Oakland police are now stuck with a bill for $170,000. The buyback has been criticized as a poorly organized fiasco, but even the critics say it was "the right idea" and "a step in the right direction."

On the contrary, the buyback was a bad idea from the beginning. Gun buybacks have been tried before, in cities from Seattle to Washington, D.C., and they simply don't work.

In an authoritative study, the National Academy of Sciences reported that "the theory underlying gun buy-back programs is badly flawed and the empirical evidence demonstrates the ineffectiveness of these programs."

It doesn't take much insight to understand why gun buybacks don't work. Gun buybacks attract low-quality guns from people who aren't likely to use them to commit crimes. The Oakland police, for example, bought a dozen guns from seniors living in an assisted-living facility. Are you relieved to know that Don Perata has disarmed these dangerous senior citizens?

The Oakland buyback was especially absurd because of the high price offered: $250.

(Excerpt) Read more at insidebayarea.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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1 posted on 02/25/2008 5:08:30 PM PST by rellimpank
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To: rellimpank

$250?!?! I have a bunch of broken guns that I couldn’t sell for $25 total. I hope I get a buyback like this someday.


2 posted on 02/25/2008 5:10:58 PM PST by July 4th
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To: rellimpank

but even the critics say it was “the right idea” and “a step in the right direction.”

Typical liberal feel good crap.


3 posted on 02/25/2008 5:11:47 PM PST by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: rellimpank

Here are some revolver prices: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&categoryId=50802&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15703&top_category=15703


4 posted on 02/25/2008 5:13:12 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: rellimpank

How can you buy “back” something that was never yours?

(In other words, the very term is a lie.)


5 posted on 02/25/2008 5:14:20 PM PST by coloradan (The US is becoming a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: rellimpank

It is not a noble idea, it’s just freaking stupid.


6 posted on 02/25/2008 5:15:06 PM PST by alarm rider ("The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -)
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To: July 4th

That is what I was thinking, if the $250 applies to any gun!


7 posted on 02/25/2008 5:15:39 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: rellimpank

so, with no questions asked and no I.D. required, how many of these guns were A. stolen, B. used in crimes? The whole thing was a publicity stunt by that miscreant, Don Perata. And of course the liberal morons living in Oakland will figure he’s such a noble guy. How many guns did he sell “back”? The SOB has one of two CCW permits issued in Oakland.


8 posted on 02/25/2008 5:24:16 PM PST by 45Auto (Big holes are (almost) always better.)
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To: rellimpank

I’m thinking of a Senator buy-back program. I never actually owned a Senator, but I’d turn one in for a big payday. Hey, it gets one off the streets.


9 posted on 02/25/2008 5:26:27 PM PST by Sender (Sometimes I sits and votes, and sometimes I just sits.)
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To: rellimpank
the first two people in line at one of the three buyback locations were gun dealers with 60 firearms packed in the trunk of their car...............
10 posted on 02/25/2008 5:28:10 PM PST by umgud
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To: rellimpank

Oakland, Berkeley and SF are within spitting distance of each other - there’s a lot of competition among those three for who’s got the most Morons! Fools! and Idiots!

They take turns in upping the bar.


11 posted on 02/25/2008 5:37:47 PM PST by aquila48
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To: rellimpank

Does it say what they do with the guns that they buy? I remember another gun buyback program where the police department ended up selling the guns they had bought back to recoup some of the money they had paid out. I am pro second amendment, but if they were not going to destroy the guns they bought, what would be the point?


12 posted on 02/25/2008 5:38:01 PM PST by informavoracious ("Help me, Obama-Wan Kenyabi, you're my only hope!")
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To: rellimpank

Amazing ... the cops ripped off the sellers -

Do they get to post negative comments on EBay ?

I wonder how the people in line reacted when the cops said, “ no more money, but we are going to take your guns away anyway “.


13 posted on 02/25/2008 6:23:46 PM PST by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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To: Sender

I don’t know about getting Senators off the streets. I can think of several that should be kicked out onto the streets.


14 posted on 02/25/2008 6:57:58 PM PST by javachip
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To: rellimpank

In what way are ‘buybacks’ a ‘noble idea’? And since the idea is to be a publicity stunt to show how ‘reasonable’ gun owners don’t really need their guns, how does it ‘misfire’?


15 posted on 02/25/2008 7:57:55 PM PST by supercat
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To: rellimpank

Step 1) buy $100 gun from:
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/p/feg-pa-63-pistol%2C-9x18-caliber%2C-vg-to-excellent-/products_id/1258

Step 2) sell $100 to police for $250

Step 3) profit!


16 posted on 02/25/2008 8:14:58 PM PST by BorisTheBulletDodger (When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away!)
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To: BenLurkin

Here are some others dip stick. http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/handguns/hi_point_handguns.html They run to about 180 (NEW) and guess waht, neither of these are being tuned in.

Grab a clue some where!


17 posted on 02/25/2008 9:22:03 PM PST by Hazcat (We won an immigration BATTLE, the WAR is not over. Be ever vigilant.)
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To: BorisTheBulletDodger
Step 1) buy $100 gun from:

More like a $175 gun--at least around here--once shipping and FFL handling fees are taken into account. Further, non-FFL's are not allowed to sell guns purchased for the purpose of resale.

BTW, I wonder why the quoted shipping for three guns is more than twice as expensive as shipping for two.

18 posted on 02/25/2008 9:22:23 PM PST by supercat
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To: informavoracious
Does it say what they do with the guns that they buy?

Where do you think cops get their "drop guns"?

19 posted on 02/25/2008 9:38:28 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (Never say yer sorry, mister. It's a sign of weakness)
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To: Hazcat
http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/handguns/hi_point_handguns.html

Their .45acp pistol feels like a brick. To be expected, I suppose, since it's blowback operated.

Looking at the instruction sheet, I'm curious what the "counterweight" is for? An effort at drop-safety?

20 posted on 02/25/2008 9:49:48 PM PST by supercat
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