Law-abiding citizens turn in firearms to keep them out of lawbreakers' hands (TN)

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | July 16, 2006 | Lindsay Melvin

[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.

[tarawa]

ack....

[stylin19a]

"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.

[CindyDawg]

I hope none live to regret this.

[ziggy_dlo]

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??!!!

[Wallace T.]

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.

[300magnum]

You just can't fix stupid. < /big ol' southern drawl >

[YOUGOTIT]

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.

[Excellence]

This article sounds like it was written for Pravda.

[GingisK]

It seems that the job of the Propaganda Ministry is just about finished. We The People no longer want to be free.

[PattonFan]

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?

[satchmodog9]

More from the shallow end of the gene pool.

[AngryJawa]

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.

[Mini-14]

I called 911
I'm on hold
I wish I had that gun I'd sold!

[boris]

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

[opus86]

If we get one gun that's one less gun possibly used in a crime

By this same logic we should all turn in our knives, baseball bats, and automobiles. Are there no limits to leftist idiocy?

[boris]

Sorry: transaction, not transacion.

[Larry Lucido]

I hope none live to regret this.

Or die to regret this.

[Disambiguator]

"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 @$$.

[proudofthesouth]

Are there no limits to leftist idiocy?

NO !!