Posted on 01/05/2007 9:00:01 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A gun buyback scheduled for this weekend to honor a slain Jacksonville woman has been canceled because there's not enough money to give out, the African Methodist Episcopal Ministerial Alliance said.
Violent crimes are the reason the group of local ministers started the gun buyback program, which has gotten hundreds of guns off the streets.
This weekend's buyback was supposed to be in honor of a mother who was shot and killed while doing her job.
Shannon McCants was shot by a gun that should have never entered Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center's pharmacy where she was working.
McCants' life and death was the inspiration for a proposed fourth gun buyback, which has been canceled.
"It is somewhat disheartening that a gun buyback in her honor has not garnered support," said a pharmacist at the hospital where McCants worked.
The Rev. Mark Griffin has been busy petitioning for money for the program that in the past has lined up hundreds of people with guns in hand, trading in their weapons for $50.
"One lady found a sawed-off shotgun under her son's bed, and we recovered that gun and gave it to the authorities," Griffin said.
So far, the AME Ministerial Alliance has collected 800 guns and turned them into police. Police said 10 of the weapons recovered had been reported stolen and none of them had been used to commit a crime.
However, the gun buyback program is now without funds.
Griffin said he could not get anyone to donate to the program that the sheriff's said works.
"You're talking about almost 800 firearms. One of the things I can tell you is that I know with 100 percent certainty that those guns will not be used to seriously injure anybody or kill anybody," said JSO Director Michael Edwards.
"We have been given a lot of lip service, but nothing has materialized as far as financial support," Griffin said.
Other initiatives, such as the Gun Bounty program, have received a great deal support. The Gun Bounty program is aimed at getting guns and criminals off the street, and tipsters can get $1,000 if police get a gun and make an arrest.
The program received a $200,000 donation from the Chamber of Commerce. So far, the program has given out $2,300 and made 31 arrests, but there are still tens of thousands of dollars left to be handed out.
Griffin said he was hopeful the group would able to get money to rejuvenate the gun buyback program.
Anyone who wants to get rid of a gun can call the sheriff's office at 904-630-0500, and an officer will come by to take the gun.
Bump. Gun-Grabbers temporarily foiled...
What'd it do? Sprout legs? I suppose the gun's partner in crime was the SUV that drove the gun there.
But I guess calling it "disarming the poor" is too wordy.
Cue the violins.
"Griffin said he could not get anyone to donate to the program that the sheriff's said works....So far, the AME Ministerial Alliance has collected 800 guns and turned them into police. Police said 10 of the weapons recovered had been reported stolen and none of them had been used to commit a crime."
Here is a clue Rev. Griffin; if you collected 800 guns, 790 of which were not stolen (or assume illegal due to no comment about such) and none had been used in a crime and the woman still was killed by a gun, the sheriff is blowing smoke up your rear. People are starting to realize this and are refusing to give money for a worthless/ineffective program.
I'll tell you something else that is 100% certain: none of the guns that were turned in will be used by innocent victims to protect themselves against criminals who will never turn in their own guns.
Here's another clue Griff ole buddy. Next time try Courvoisier in Hand Cut Lalic Crystal Decanters in exchange for Guns, or Escalades for Guns. Or how about Guns for a Baby Daddy, or Guns for Credick Card payments? Yeah, that's it.
I found this quote in Louis L'Amour's book "The Lonesome Gods":
"Our constitution provides that no law shall forbid us from keeping and bearing arms because of the necessity for a militia. We have a militia of a sort, but our greatest strength lies in the fact that so many of our people not only possess weapons but also understand their use, and above all they are prepared to defend themselves against any sudden attack by an enemy.
"You will remember that we won our freedom because we were armed. We were not a simple peasantry unused to weapons. The men who wrote our Constitution knew our people would be safe as long and they were armed."
Well, that's a shame.
But, in the spirit of caring, I'll pick up the slack. I'm announcing my own gun buy-back. Glocks or HKs welcome; I'll gladly give you $50 for it.
But you wouldn't turn in the little punk who owned it, would you?
He'll just go steal another shotgun, or buy one (illegally) from his local neighborhood crack dealer, and saw the barrel off it.
You've accomplished absolutely nothing, Reverend Griffin.
I have always wondered how someone can buy somethng "BACK" when it was never theirs to start with.
Cheapskate - I'll go $75.
What happens is that guns used in crimes turned in cannot be used against them under this program....Our Liberal ex New York police chief has done this in our community several times...Many of those guns have been used in crimes...Nothing can be done about it under this buy back program....Most of them are not even worth turning in...They are junk....It is a feel good program...I have seen some of the Reverends here going to bat for some of the biggest gang members in our community...So much for trying to reduce crime..Our feel good newspaper always writes a puff piece on what a tough child hood they have and how they have gone bad because of it......
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The revolution has been cancelled due to...
LACK OF INTEREST! |
Ummm, Shouldn't the son be charged w/ a felony?
http://www.news4jax.com/news/10663551/detail.html
wow that's too bad. I wonder if zip guns would have counter?
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