Help make gun turn-ins (buybacks) effective

You can help take valuable guns like these off the street.

Across the country, communities, police departments and churches are sponsoring gun turn-ins to get "guns off the street". At many of these events, private buyers are showing up, offering cash for the more valuable guns. These private additions to the public turn-in are effective, no doubt, in getting more guns off the street, because they add to the resources that are available to those who want to get rid of guns for something of value, be it a grocery card or a number of twenty dollar bills. These private efforts are often hampered by lack of parking space, intimidation by police officers, and ignorance of the people turning in the guns, as many fear the transaction might be illegal.

You can help make the turn-in in your area more effective! When one is announced, simply let those running the event know that you are willing to help. Instead of standing on the curve with your "Cash for Guns" sign, offer to stand with the police inside the event, and be willing to offer more than the gift card for firearms that are more valuable. It would be best if numerous private parties were available, as more good guns could then be transferred into responsible hands.

This action serves many useful purposes. It stretches the turn-in budget so that more guns can be taken off the street. It helps keep fearful widows from being defrauded of most of the market value of the gun they are turning in. It prevents valuable assets from being destroyed by bureaucratic inflexibility. It is a win-win-win situation.

Be sure to make the offer in a public way. It would be good if a letter with the offer were published on the web and in the local paper. It is hard for me to see how this offer could be turned down in good faith.

Please let us know the results of this approach.

Dean Weingarten

©2013 by Dean Weingarten Permission to share granted as long as this notice is included.