Posted on 11/25/2006 11:18:59 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS) COMPTON, Calif. - Beginning this weekend, Compton residents can exchange their guns for gifts -- no questions asked -- as part of a city-sponsored endeavor to reduce violence.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, personnel will collect firearms in the parking lot of the Circuit City/Ralphs Grocery shopping center at Compton Boulevard and Alameda Street. The guns for gifts drive will continue over the next three Saturdays.
For every gun turned in, participants will receive a $50 gift card to Circuit City, Ralphs Grocery or Toys "R" Us.
"The largest challenge to this program is to ensure that the local residents understand that this is a completely anonymous process, where we will ask no questions of the person surrendering the firearm," the sheriff's department statement said.
The guns will still be tested to ensure they haven’t been used in any unsolved crimes, said Sgt. Rich Pena of the sheriff's Compton Station.
"But the main thing is just getting them off of the street," he said.
In 2005, about 400 guns were handed over to the sheriff’s department, Pena said.
The guns will be melted down at a Rancho Cucamonga foundry in July. The fancier guns, however, will be rendered inoperable and used in demonstrations, he said.
The program aims at making the community safer by decreasing the number of guns available to be stolen and used in criminal activity, according to the statement.
Compton had the highest homicide rate of an Los Angeles County city -- a total of 67 -- in 2005. By mid-November, there had been 65 murders. There has been a drastic reduction in killings -- with 35 reported so far -- a change that sheriff's officials attribute to aggressive law enforcement, including the creation of a Compton gang task force.
Seems obvious that the MSM and Dems are drooling at an opportunity to implement more gun control. They continue to ignore the fact the only type of gun control that reduces crime is hitting what you shoot at.
My idea of gun control: Holding the gun with both hands, and hitting my target!
I can see the criminals in Compton -- rushing out to exchange THEIR guns for gift certificates. NOT!
I dare say that a HUGE percentage of guns in Compton are stolen anyway. So? Let's go trade 'em in, and steal some more.
Stupid libs.
If it's less then the ebay value of those $50 'gift cards' I smell an arbitrage opportunity for Compton residents.
Most guns are worth more than $50, unless they are hopeless wrecks or stolen.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
This has been tried a lot of places. HAS IT EVER WORKED TO LOWER CRIME/MURDER RATES?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I wonder if media is going to do a follow up on this and publish what a dismal failure this waste of expensive police time this is.
I couldn't anyone turning anything but broken red ryder BB guns for a lousey $50 gift certificate to stores where $50 will buy absolutely nothing. (except for the grocery store one, which will get you a couple cases of kraft dinner)
Flash forward to the crime stats for 2006 ... an amazing increase in home burglaries starts the day after the program is announced and tails off dramatically on the day after the exchange takes place. Officials can offer no explanation for the "statistical anomaly."
If I lived in Compton my yard would look like a DMZ and I'd have more guns in the house than the LAPD owns, in addition to a dozen or so large, vicious dogs.
Well ok,as long as it makes them feel good.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Melting them down will destroy evidence of a murder.
Where's this "social justice" I keep hearing the "progressives" braying about?
I can build one for nothing from scrap.
Do criminals, and gangbangers turn in guns? I don't think so.
Compton residents need not turn in their guns, instead turn in the hoodlums and the gangsters.
You steal your homeboy's gun and get the gift card, yo.
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