Steps to Disarm (Get Gift Card) at Ohio Church

[SecularMotion]

CINCINNATI — Outside a squat Cincinnati church within sight of an elementary school, dozens of people with guns braced against the Tuesday morning cold, waiting. They had guns in their hands and guns in their handbags, guns swaddled in blankets and guns plopped in plastic bags. A .22 here, a sawed-off there, guns everywhere, a few still loaded.

Inside the church, two private security professionals with Glocks at the hip went over the ground rules for the gun buyback program about to begin. No police on the premises, no questions asked and no more than 10 people in the lobby at a time. Guns must be deemed operable before being exchanged for a $100 gift card. Oh, and the guns must be kept in bags, with muzzles down.

“I don’t want them coming in with the weapon and just saying, ‘Here you go,’ ” explained Michael Brooks, 44, an electrician by trade and the day’s lead security man, whose job was to create a controlled environment out of dozens of strangers walking into a church with guns.

The doors to the President Drive Church of Christ opened, and the first in line took seats in the cramped lobby’s welcoming warmth, some chatting, others silent. A burly man in hunting attire cradled two rifles in zippered cases. A slight man in a hooded sweatshirt clutched a plastic bag that drooped from the weight of metal. An older woman held a pocketbook in her lap.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/19/us/19land.html?hp&_r=0

[cantbeserious]

1. Eliminating Guns From America One At Time - The Long Road To A Gun Free America

eom

[holdencaufield]

2. I thought we were against guns in churches?

[spin]

9. Some people must believe that God protects churches from mass murderers. ...

Unfortunately that is false as a number of shootings have occurred in churches. That may be because churches are viewed as gun free zones that house a large number of people.

Some Pentecostals believe God will protect you from a rattlesnake if you only have enough faith. Testing God might be a poor idea. George Went Hensley started this practice and died from a snake bite in 1955.

Christian Scientists in the past avoided medical treatment for common illness and consequently died.

In my opinion God doesn't suffer fools gladly and he protects those who are smart enough to protect themselves. However I am hardly an expert on the subject as while I do study the Bible (I find it interesting) I rarely enter a church. Most "Christians" would never call me a Christian and some have told me that my eventual destination is Hell. I point out to them that since they have passed judgement on me in that manner which is far above their pay grade, they need to read the instruction book to their faith more often.

The last time I was in a church was several years ago when a family friend who is a cop got married. I was carrying my legally concealed handgun at the time and carry in a church in Florida is not against the law. I had no reason to expect any violence even though at the time a guy this LEO had arrested was treatening to kill him and he took the threat seriously. At least five other people at the gathering had handguns on their person. I usually carry my firearm into all places that I legally can as I feel leaving it in my vehicle might lead to it being stolen. Since it is well concealed not one person has know I was carrying in the 15 years that I have had a carry permit. People who encounter me probably would remember me as a polite older gentleman with a bad limp.

[sarisataka]

12. Many Christians forget Luke, Chapter 4

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

I always liked the opinion that humans prove God has a sense of humor...

[geckosfeet]

3. Most operable firearms are worth far more than $100.

[gejohnston]

4. how many of these actually get melted

and how many goes to private collections or are resold at flea markets and gun shows for a profit? Without the police helping, the ATF could bust the church for having an unregistered NFA weapon, like the sawed off.

[holdencaufield]

5. I'm curious ....

... were the people handing out the gift-cards FFL's? Did they submit to background checks? Or, were the exercising that infamous "gun show loophole" that gets everyone's knickers in a twist?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. Maybe they were just...

...some knightly volun... uh, paid profe... uh, volunteer professionals (?!?) who um...




....MADE SOME 'FEEL GOOD' MOVES (that went against what the controllers say but accomplished what they want)!

[krispos42]

7. As long as they didn't violate any law about. ..

Guns in church or with X feet of a school, I fine with this.

It would be better if they had been sold to a gun dealer for resale.

[petronius]

8. I agree - I do feel a bit bad for people that exchange a firearm for less than

it's worth, but perhaps the convenience and the feel-good aspect of getting a gun 'off the street' makes up for it for them.

And while I do doubt that these programs have any effect whatsoever on crime and public safety, there's nothing wrong with disposing of an otherwise unwanted (and perhaps unattended-to) firearm while putting some food on the table...

[virginia mountainman]

10. I can't wait for one of these buy backs to be closer..

I have several "near worthless" firearms that I could make some nice coin on! I had some friends take several pounds of "junk" guns and made about 1,500 bucks about a year ago at a "buy back"

[holdencaufield]

11. Do unwanted guns ...

... get sent to the

Island of Misfit Guns?