Skip to comments.
Law-abiding citizens turn in firearms to keep them out of lawbreakers' hands (TN)
Memphis Commercial Appeal ^
| July 16, 2006
| Lindsay Melvin
Posted on 07/18/2006 6:01:24 AM PDT by tarawa
Law-abiding citizens turn in firearms to keep them out of lawbreakers' hands
By Lindsay Melvin Special to The Commercial Appeal July 16, 2006
Homeowners once looking for protection, ex-hunters and wary parents were among those who pulled up to The Pyramid Saturday to unload their rifles, semiautomatics, shotguns and revolvers.
The gun turn-in program that ran throughout the day was held by the Memphis Police Department in cooperation with WMC TV-5 and Soul Classics 103.5.
Not intended to round up the firearms of lawbreakers, the event was aimed at law-abiding citizens who have the power to stop their own guns from falling into violent hands, said Sgt. Vince Higgins, spokesman for Memphis police.
"Ninety percent of the guns we get from criminals are stolen in burglaries," said Higgins, who added that most of those guns are sold on the street.
"A criminal is not walking around with a gun that's registered to him; it's a gun he's obtained illegally," he said.
The recent shootings that have taken the lives of local children, including 12-year-old Melissa Robertson, who was shot in the head at a Binghamton playground, spurred the gun-collecting campaign.
Over the years, there have been several other gun turn-in programs in Memphis. They've resulted in collections that have ranged anywhere from 22 to more than 1,000 guns. In the first hour of Saturday's collection, police had already cataloged 18 guns.
"If we get one gun that's one less gun possibly used in a crime," said Higgins.
In the week leading up to the gun turn-in, the sergeant said he received dozens of calls inquiring how to dispose of unwanted firearms left to them by deceased relatives.
"When we're dead and gone, nobody has to worry about what to do with them," said Edith Taylor, 64, of her husband's three-gun collection.
She beamed as a specialist with the Firearms Training Unit inspected her husband's rifle chamber over a bucket lined with bullet-proof vests -- a precaution in case one goes off.
"I've been after him for 40 years to get rid of it," said Taylor, who was relieved to finally get the guns out of her Cordova home.
"We've talked about selling them but then where do they end up? Here I know they'll be destroyed," she said.
All of the guns were cataloged and eventually will be melted down, said Higgins.
The first hundred people to turn in a gun received a $100 gift card to the New York Suit Exchange. Other vouchers to local merchants were also handed out.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: banglist; crime; guns
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-43 next last
ack....
1
posted on
07/18/2006 6:01:26 AM PDT
by
tarawa
To: tarawa
"When we're dead and gone, nobody has to worry about what to do with them," said Edith Taylor, 64, of her husband's three-gun collection...
bad guys now know for sure these people are unarmed. Won't take much to look up address.
2
posted on
07/18/2006 6:04:38 AM PDT
by
stylin19a
To: tarawa
I hope none live to regret this.
3
posted on
07/18/2006 6:05:50 AM PDT
by
CindyDawg
To: tarawa
She beamed as a specialist with the Firearms Training Unit inspected her husband's rifle chamber over a bucket lined with bullet-proof vests -- a precaution in case one goes off. "I've been after him for 40 years to get rid of it," said Taylor, who was relieved to finally get the guns out of her Cordova home. "We've talked about selling them but then where do they end up? Here I know they'll be destroyed," she said. I dont think so. They know that you are disarmed so they will stalk you as their next victim. How much of a sea cow can you be??!!!
4
posted on
07/18/2006 6:08:59 AM PDT
by
ziggy_dlo
(The GOV't is a crime organization. So is the FBI, the CIA, the NYT, the liberals... well DUH!!!)
To: tarawa
Like most cities in the South, or for that matter in the rest of the country, Memphis is just another liberal hell-hole dominated by politicians pandering to minority group activists, municipal employee unions, and other left wing groups. One source of amusement is to watch homosexuals and metrosexuals attempt to gentrify inner city neighborhoods, until they get mugged, burglarized, or hear gunshots too close for comfort. In the case of Memphis, you can at least take I-240 around the worst of the inner city area.
To: tarawa
You just can't fix stupid. < /big ol' southern drawl >
6
posted on
07/18/2006 6:13:00 AM PDT
by
300magnum
(We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength and audacity, and returns to strike us)
To: tarawa
The bad guys will be looking for the addresses and make sure they do what they want to these people. There is NO requirement for the police to protect anybody and this is one the most stupid things I have read about lately. But the left-wing anti-American press is all for helping the criminal element.
7
posted on
07/18/2006 6:13:27 AM PDT
by
YOUGOTIT
To: tarawa
This article sounds like it was written for Pravda.
8
posted on
07/18/2006 6:14:37 AM PDT
by
Excellence
(Since November 6, 1998)
To: tarawa
It seems that the job of the Propaganda Ministry is just about finished. We The People no longer want to be free.
9
posted on
07/18/2006 6:15:47 AM PDT
by
GingisK
To: tarawa
the event was aimed at law-abiding citizens who have the power to stop their own guns from falling into violent hands, So they would turn in their firearms to "authorities" and allow the chance that their family may fall prey to violence with no chance at self defense?
I cut up those plastic "bras" that hold six-packs together, because I don't want "my" trash to inflict harm on wildlife. Are these folks using the same equation with their basic right to protect Themselves?
To: tarawa
More from the shallow end of the gene pool.
11
posted on
07/18/2006 6:17:03 AM PDT
by
satchmodog9
(Most people stand on the tracks and never even hear the train coming)
To: Excellence
This article sounds like it was written for Pravda.You got that impression as well, I see.
All that's missing is a declaration that this will be for the greater glory of the State.
Fools.
12
posted on
07/18/2006 6:17:51 AM PDT
by
AngryJawa
({NRA}{IDPA})
To: tarawa
I called 911
I'm on hold
I wish I had that gun I'd sold!
13
posted on
07/18/2006 6:19:31 AM PDT
by
Mini-14
Comment #14 Removed by Moderator
To: tarawa
I ask again: was the proper paperwork filled out? A transacion of a gun took place; ownership was changed. $100 was paid for each firearm. It appears that illegal trafficking in firearms is taking place.
Why doesn't somebody call the BATF down on the perpetrators of these multiple federal crimes?
--Boris
15
posted on
07/18/2006 6:22:49 AM PDT
by
boris
(The deadliest weapon of mass destruction in history is a leftist with a word processor.)
To: tarawa
If we get one gun that's one less gun possibly used in a crimeBy this same logic we should all turn in our knives, baseball bats, and automobiles. Are there no limits to leftist idiocy?
16
posted on
07/18/2006 6:23:07 AM PDT
by
opus86
To: boris
Sorry: transaction, not transacion.
17
posted on
07/18/2006 6:23:31 AM PDT
by
boris
(The deadliest weapon of mass destruction in history is a leftist with a word processor.)
To: CindyDawg
I hope none live to regret this. Or die to regret this.
To: tarawa
"If we get one gun that's one less gun possibly used in a crime," said Higgins.That's also one less gun that could possibly be used in self-defense, you statist @$$.
19
posted on
07/18/2006 6:26:03 AM PDT
by
Disambiguator
(Don't mess with Israel.)
To: opus86
Are there no limits to leftist idiocy?NO !!
20
posted on
07/18/2006 6:26:40 AM PDT
by
proudofthesouth
(Mao said that power comes at the point of a rifle; I say FREEDOM does.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-43 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson