N.J. Gun Buyback Doesn’t Even Claim It Takes “Guns Off the Streets”

The purpose of many gun buybacks is to “get guns off the streets,” but this past weekend in Millville, N.J., a gun buyback was just about offering $50 gift cards for firearms. The biased story from The Daily Journal - like most of this type – offers a feel good feeling, while never questioning if it does any good. Nor is any counter voice offered. In this case, the usual reason – to make the streets supposedly safer – is also not suggested. Instead, this quote says it all:

“Event organizers said the guns they collect often are either inherited or unusable.”

If the guns are unusable why are taxpayer dollars going towards handing out money for useless items? On the flip side of the issue, what about valuable or collectible firearms? And finally, what is the actual purpose of the event, if not just to create a populace without firearms?

About the only silver lining in the story is that it could be said this could be a way for stolen guns to be returned to their owners, as the piece noted the following:

“Serial numbers of all the guns collected would be checked to see if any were stolen. Stolen weapons will be returned to their owners, if they can be located, and the rest will be melted down and destroyed.”

Clearly, even with a silver lining there is some gray clouds it seems. “Melted down and destroyed.”