Perata Sets Up Massive Gun Buyback Program ($250 per gun!)

KCBS ^ | 1-19-2008 | KCBS

[Atlas Sneezed]

OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) - One week ago, a 10-year-old boy was accidentally shot in a botched gas station robbery. Doctors expect that Christopher Rodriguez will be permanently paralyzed from the waist, down.

State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oak., knows firsthand what it is like to be the victim of gun violence. He was carjacked in broad daylight last month. It was Rodriguez's shooting near Piedmont Avenue, however, that really shook that lawmaker. He is now leading an effort to make sure no other children are affected by gun violence on the streets of Oakland.

"There's sort of a despair setting in right now, I can feel it as I go around," described Perata. "And so this might be nothing more than a psychological effort to make those of us living in Oakland feel even better about that. But it's better to try to lower the odds somehow.

Perata is establishing a massive gun buyback program at three locations next month, offering $250.00 to anyone who brings in a gun. There will be no questions asked of anyone who brings in a gun.

Perata acknowledges that the concept of a gun buyback is not new. However, he hopes that offering a variety of drop-off locations emphasizes to Oakland residents that lawmakers are committed to getting guns off the streets. "In Oakland, there can't be a higher priority than public safety right now," emphasized Perata.

The gun buyback takes place on Saturday, February 9, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Guns are being accepted at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Boulevard, Oakland; True Vine Ministries, 896 Isabella Street, Oakland; and Christian Cathedral, 2433 Coolidge Avenue, Oakland.

[RetiredArmy]

$250??????? LOL. That would not buy my ammo back. My pistolas costs two to three times or more than that. Why should I sell them to them that cheep???? I will sell them to you for $1,000,000.00 each. Then I will buy a tank with the money.

[tumblindice]

“I’ve been trying to get rid of this dog.”

Same with my `jam-o-matic’ Jennings .22. I’d take $50, but they offer $250?
Sold!

[archy]

In Oakland, there can't be a higher priority than public safety right now," emphasized Perata.

I take it he hasn't heard anything on the news since September 2001.

[Billthedrill]

Hey, nice. Is that genuine nickel plating?

Had a co-worker ask me to fix up her old Lorcin. The barrel obstruction was lint from being carried in her purse for about ten years. Popped the mag and it fell apart in my hand. I am not making that up. Sorta looked like this:

Perata's one of the worst. If my friend wants an expenses-paid trip to Oakland, she can have one. A little hard on the taxpayer, to be sure, but hey, they feel better.

[meyer]

The solution is to buy up a few dozen $100 .22 pistols and take them in for your $250. Net profit - $150 per gun, minus a little time and gasoline. Seems like one could cash in with this scheme. Gun-maker makes money, citizen makes money. Everybody’s happy except the idiots running the anti-gun campaign.

[Lurker]

I sure hope all of these firearms transaactions are being done by licensed dealers and that thier 4473's are all in order.

Someone might want to alert the BATF goons that illegal gun transactions are happening in Oakland under the auspices of the City Fathers.

L

[ditto h]

Great. Now you’ll have people breaking into homes to steal guns to collect the $250 each.

[MediaMole]

Why are these even called “buyback” programs. The government never owned the weapons in question.

[archy]

I sure hope all of these firearms transaactions are being done by licensed dealers and that thier 4473's are all in order.

I don't think California has an *Official Misconduct* statute similar to those in Indiana, Tennessee and a few other states. But if they did, a pretty fair case could be made:

Indiana Code;
IC 35-44-1-2
Official misconduct

Sec. 2. A public servant who:
(1) knowingly or intentionally performs an act that the public servant is forbidden by law to perform;

(2) performs an act the public servant is not authorized by law to perform, with intent to obtain any property for himself or herself;

(3) knowingly or intentionally solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept from an appointee or employee any property other than what the public servant is authorized by law to accept as a condition of continued employment;

(4) knowingly or intentionally acquires or divests himself or herself of a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise or aids another person to do so based on information obtained by virtue of the public servant's office that official action that has not been made public is contemplated;

(5) knowingly or intentionally fails to deliver public records and property in the public servant's custody to the public servant's successor in office when that successor qualifies; or

(6) knowingly or intentionally violates IC 36-6-4-17(b);

commits official misconduct, a Class D felony.

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.4. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.54; Acts 1980, P.L.73, SEC.2; P.L.34-1992, SEC.2;