CT: Hartford Turn in event 28 October, 2017, Profit Center

Hartford Connecticut had a gun turn in event on Saturday, 28 October, 2017. They have been using the Orwellian term "buy back". You cannot buy back something you never owned to begin with.

Hartford has been holding these events every few months.  Gun turn-in events have become scarce in most states as private purchasers turned the affairs into impromptu gun shows. They are hanging on in those states where private sales are banned. A sale is not private if the government requires the sale to be conducted through a government agent, and to be recorded.

Second Amendment supporters have another way to use these events to advantage. In Connecticut, Joel Cramer, a Connecticut resident, has made a name for himself on ctguntalk.com. I found him when I was looking for details about the Hartford turn in event for 28 October.

I asked Joel if the information on the discussion board was correct. He said that it was. About three months ago, he turned in items that collected $1,700 from a Hartford turn-in event, and on 28 October he received another $900 in gift cards.

Joel confirmed he knew a person turned in 10 stripped receivers and got $4,500 in gift cards. He insisted it was not a rumor, he could confirm it happened. It was probably at the event three months ago. It is the only event I have found that paid $450 per "assault rifle" in Connecticut.

At the turn in last Saturday, the officers refused to take the two AR-10 stripped receivers Joel brought with him. He had to settle for turning in some old pistols.

Joel told me he has been attending these events since 1994, and that he hopes they continue.

Hatford has increased the payments they will make at these events. in March of 2017, they offered much less. From the courant.com:

Working firearms can be exchanged for Stop & Shop gift cards in varying denominations: $200 for assault rifles, $100 for pistols and revolvers; and $25 for shotguns or rifles.

The prices this time twice those amounts.  From wfsb.com:

• $400 gift card for an assault rifle 
• $250 gift card for a semi-automatic handgun 
• $150 gift card for a revolver 
• $100 gift card for a shotgun or rifle

41 guns were collected on 28 October, 2017, at the event. There were several police officers on site.

Joel said that the incentive for "assault rifles" had dropped from $450 at the event three months ago. Perhaps the organizers thought $450 was too much to pay for stripped receivers.

Joel has a company that specializes in machine guns, silencers, and short shotguns. It is Remarcable Arms in Wallingford, Ct.

The guns turned in at the Hartford events are to be destroyed after they are checked to see if someone has listed them as stolen. It is a waste of valuable assets. Several states have banned the destruction of these resources, instead requiring that the guns be placed into the normal commercial channels of firearm distribution. The proceeds are used for the benefit of the public. Proceeds usually go to either the general fund or to the police budget.
Some agencies auction firearms directly to the public. Others take bids from dealers.

Everyone benefits.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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