Patch.com Piece Tries to Tie Gun Buybacks and Lower Crime Together
Much of the country has seen a decline in crime, while gun sales continue to soar. And yet this week Patch.com noted that Brooklyn held a gun buyback, in which “over 100 firearms were surrendered to the NYPD,” and noted that crime is down.
The article, titled, “Brooklyn Sees Lowest Murder Rate Since 1963” offered this passage:
The NYPD/Clergy Gun Buy-Back program, which has been running since 2008, has helped remove 7,600 weapons from the streets.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Brooklyn is now safer, and he has statistics to prove it.
We have to ask, does the gun buyback program have anything to do with it? Maybe a tiny small part, but couldn’t it be that many of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn have been transformed by gentrification also in no small part the reason for the drop in crime. There has been a renaissance in many parts of Brooklyn over the past decade.
It is just interesting that this aspect hasn’t been addressed.
NRA News: New Jersey: Camden Residents Turning in Guns for Groceries
Cam Edwards talks to Scott Bach from the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs
Gun Buybacks Called Success as Crime Rises
Camden residents can take part in a gun buyback, notes the Courier-Post. The story offers this information on the guns-for-groceries swap, which began yesterday:
The buyback program is the first in the city since 1993, according to city officials.
But then there is this passage:
Camden has seen an increase in gun violence this year. Through the end of last month aggravated assaults with a firearm had increased 45 percent compared to 2010. Shooting incidents had increased more than 30 percent.
So in other words, these programs area also noted for “getting guns off the streets,” but as this is an ongoing program in Camden, clearly it isn’t doing any good at all.
How do you Judge Success in Buyback
The EmpireStateNews this week offered a post titled, “Successful gun buyback in Brooklyn” and noted that “more than 180 guns were taken off the streets.”
Handguns were exchanged for $200 bankcard, while rifles and shotguns were exchanged for a mere $20 bankcard! All the guns will reportedly be destroyed.
So is it successful buyback if owners of guns are given a fraction of potential value? Is it a successful buyback if 180 guns are collected, yet there is no proof these were actually “on the streets?” And is it successful if some guns of historic or collector value will be destroyed?
Charlotte Observer: “Gifts for guns ‘about making a wrong right’”
We know that there is always going to be a spin when it comes to stories about gun buybacks, but The Charlotte Observer went a little far with the headline “Gifts for guns ‘about making a wrong right’.”
There is nothing right about this fact:
…each person who turned over a gun received a $25 gift card to Walmart or for gas.
Given that the hard times many people are facing, selling a gun for a mere $25 is shameful. Likely many of those firearms would have fetched far more from a gun dealer!
Detroit PD “paying out hundreds of dollars”
The Detroit Free Press jumped on the feel good – yet probably does little good – band wagon, noting “The Detroit Police Department is paying out hundreds of dollars today and next week as part of a gun buy-back program that took 744 weapons off the streets.”
There is a tense issue with that sentence we’d like to point out, how can the event be ongoing “is paying” and continues “today and next week” and yet “took.” If it is ongoing it should have “taken 744 so far,” but that’s the least of the problem with this reporting.
As with many it implies these do “take weapons off the street,” which there is no proof. Crime in the city is high and we just wonder whether these events make any difference?
Tampa Gun Buyback Takes “1000 guns off the streets”
Yet another holiday timed supposedly “feel good” story was reported this weekend, as the Tampa Police collected 1,000 guns, while the media of course used those infamous words “off the streets.” The St. Petersburg Times quoted Tampa’s Mayor Bob Buckhorn as playing along:
“Every gun we get off the streets is one less potential fatality.”
There is no proof this is true, and it is ironic that the media pays so much attention to these and barely notes Fast and Furious, which truly could result in fatalities on both side of the border.
Hartford Gun Buy Back “Takes Guns (including collector’s items) Off the Street”
Among several gun buybacks held this past weekend, the reporting on the one in Hartford, Conn. caught our attention. The CT Mirror reported:
The New Haven haul included 34 handguns, 26 long guns (including three sawed off shotguns), two fully automatic assault rifles and one Uzi. Police gave out gun locks free of charge to anyone turning in a weapon, and individuals were asked to fill out a questionnaire explaining the history of the gun and their motivations for bringing it in. All participants agreed to complete the survey.
“A number of elderly people came in,” said Pina Violana, injury prevention coordinator for Yale-New Haven Hospital. She helped coordinate the event. “They said they just wanted the guns out of their house — they had grandkids and worried for their safety but didn’t know how to get rid of them,” she said.
Some of the guns could have been considered collector’s items.
We are scratching our head s on this one. We aren’t sure if this is a mistake in the reporting, but if someone handed in two fully automatic assault rifles, would they really fill out the questionnaire?
But we make special note of the final line above, “some of the guns could have been considered collector’s items.” Despite that fact it is likely those firearms will still be destroyed, reportedly crushed and melted down. What a sad fate for “collector’s items.”
Gun Buy Back – Turn in a gun, get a Kroger gift card
The Tennessean is reporting that the Nashville Metro Police, along with Rev. Michael Joyner, will hold a buyback. We normally take offense at these events, but this one has us very outraged. Turn in a gun and get a $25 Kroger gift card – no questions asked.
First, who would turn in a potentially valuable gun for $25? That seems like such a lowball figure that it should be called an outrage. Most gun dealers would offer more than $25.
Gun Buyback in Maryland for “Unwanted” Guns
This past weekend the Sykesville Police Department reportedly “collected 13 firearms and about 35pounds of ammunition” according to the Carroll County Times. The article noted:
The program was meant to give people the opportunity to get rid of old or unwanted firearms and ammunition to ensure their homes are safe, especially for young children.
This is typical anti-gun reporting, and once again fails to note that many of the items “handed” in could have been sold to a dealer, collector or another interested party for real money. And it is shameful that the passage “to ensure their homes are safe, especially for young children,” is noted. When properly stored a gun should pose little harm to a child. Additionally, in high crime areas isn’t it fair to note that a house could be less safe without a gun for the owners to use for protection?
