Another Florida Gun Buyback Pays Out Pittance For Guns

The Orlando Sentinel‘s story on the “Kicks 4 Guns” program in Lake County made it sound like good money was paid for handed in guns. The problem with these programs is that the message, as presented by the Sheriff’s office Lt. Art Newcombe is that “it’s about making the community safer.”

The truth is that we don’t really think most of these guns actually came from the streets. And from the sampling of those who handed in the guns, we have to believe that it certainly wasn’t the case. The paper noted “anyone in possession of a firearm could trade it anonymously for a $50 gift card,” and that “people who had inherited rifles, stumbled across an unwanted pistol in a closet or decided they could make better us of $50 than their dusty old gun.”

Seriously? When is the last time that guns were worth as little as $50? This is the problem with these buybacks. The value is typically a fraction of the cost, and this is as shameful as art dealers buying valuable paintings from widows and orphans for a fraction of the value.