[DuncanWaring]

"...government handout program ..."?

How is giving surplus weapons back to the taxpayers who paid for them in the first place a "government handout program"?

[Poohbah]

A fiscally responsible approach is to SELL them to private citizens at whatever price the market will bear. Six months of part-time standing around isn't

I daresay that most of the "taxpayers who paid for them" who would receive these weapons have already received more in various public subsidies than they have ever paid in taxes...or do you really think that $6,000,000,000,000 national debt is just a bookkeeping error?

What I can guarantee you is that the vast majority of citizens out there would freeze under fire, even after getting a few hours of "teraining" from Marines and Special Forces NCOs (who Mr. Head believes, I presume, aren't doing anything important--like, oh, fighting a war, for example).

[Frohickey]

How is giving surplus weapons back to the taxpayers who paid for them in the first place a "government handout program"?

In fact, I would go further and say that why should citizens be the ones to get second hand used weapons? We paid for the ones the military is using, we should have the same thing that they do. Thats what the US vs Miller SCOTUS decision was all about.

[riggedtosail]

Actually, I like the idea of this type of handout. Sure beats the 100,000 police that never materalized but cost a bundle. Interesting side note: A local talk show host commented that before 911, she thought that all guns should be banned. Now, given 911 and the fact that the sniper has had his/her way for the past few weeks, she is ready to get armed. Look out America, people are finally realizing that they have to protect themselves! As she indicated, she now realizes in most cases, Police solve crimes from happening AGAIN, self protected citizens stop them from happening the first time!