There have been countless gun buy back programs across the country with the intention to “get guns off the street.” And the bigger problem is that the mainstream media continues to praise these events for helping “get guns off the street,” while at the same time labeling anyone standing up for firearm rights as a “gun nut.” The point that we’ve tried to make time and time again is that criminals probably aren’t handing in their guns for cash.

Worse, there have even been increases in thefts of firearms in the days leading up to such events. And why not? Most of these are events are cash for guns, no questions asked. Perfect way to score some fast money. Steal a gun, hand it in, and the evidence of the crime is melted down. The problem of course is that such firearms were never on the street. But something tells me that many criminals will continue to be on the streets and armed.

“The Troy Police Department is trying to get guns off city streets. The department is getting ready to hold its first ever gun buyback program.”

Apparently the police are following up on an event started by the Victory Church, which “has held several gun buyback days in Albany, Schenectady and Troy. Since the creation of that program nearly 200 guns have been taken off area streets.”

As we’ve reported on many times, is there any proof that these guns were “taken off the streets.” In many cases, these were guns taken from under beds. And how many times do you think widows and others have sold valuable collectibles for a mere fraction what they were worth? This would be akin to handing in a valuable collectible car and getting the clunker’s value.

“Some studies show the programs are ineffective at lowering crime rates and getting potentially harmful weapons off the streets.

“In 2000, Lawrence Sherman, a University of Pennsylvania criminology professor, conducted a study for the U. S. Department of Justice and noted there was no direct correlation between gun buyback programs and the reduction of crime.”

Now if only the rest of the media reporting on this trend realized this was the case. Unfortunately other news coverage of this buy back event, including of WKBW failed to note the possible lack of effectiveness of these programs. The local station instead took time to only praise the efforts:

“A gun buyback program is being hailed a success by city officials but some residents are troubled by the recent spike in violence, including two shootings in Buffalo in the last 24 hours.”

Likewise WIVB also was fairly one sided with it’s coverage:

“The crime curbing effort has collected over 1,600 guns over the past 2 years and city leaders said this is another successful year.”

And later in the article pointed out:

“Some say that the Gun Buyback Program couldn’t come at a better time.”

“This year’s total — 1,887 — was significantly lower than last year’s take of 6,800 guns, officials said.”

This was the fifth year the program has been running. But it is interesting to note that WITN would call this year’s event “a success.”

CBS 2 even has a very strong quote from a reliable source:

“Illinois Gun Works Owner Don Mastrianni claims that Chicago’s program to clear its street of guns by offering to buy them and melt them down has probably not prevented even one killing.

“‘Criminals aren’t going to bring in their guns,’ Mastrianni said.”

But the sound bites keep getting better. Police officer David Montgomery was quoted in the article, saying:

“You can always get the guns. There’s the underground market out there. What can you do about it?”

Maybe the rest of the mainstream media will get the message as well.