Buyback Promises “One Less Gun”

Well, ’tis the season it seems. Not just for holiday shopping, but also gun buyback programs. On December 19 the “One Less Gun” buyback program will be held at three locations in Jackson, Tennessee. As we repeatedly ask, does this really get guns off the street? The problem is that the media never asks this question. Instead we get the usual reporting that doesn’t ask the hard questions. Case in point, The Jackson Sun offers this introduction:

“A new program will allow people to trade in guns for gift cards in an effort to combat illegal handgun violence in Jackson.”

Wouldn’t sweeps of crime ridden areas do a better job of combating illegal handguns? We’ll ask one more time, why would a criminal hand in an illegal gun, especially for a $100 gift card? The paper quotes Lisa Silver, executive director of the Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association, who offered this tidbit:

“Just in light of all the recent events, we felt like we had to do something to spread the word that this kind of activity is not acceptable. Our police force works so hard, but the responsibility also falls onto this community.”

So how does getting the community to sell their guns help reduce crime? There is a bright side to the story, the article notes that “each weapon will be checked to see if it’s lost or stolen, and if so, will be returned to its owner.” Let’s hope some guns go home instead of just being destroyed.

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