Gun turn-in pits Ceasefire against collectors with cash

[Hoopla Phil]

Among those it did reach were about two dozen gun collectors who lined up at the parking lot’s two entrances, hoping to convince people driving in to sell them their guns rather than hand them over to police for destruction. Each gun turned in to police earned a $50 Fred Meyer gift certificate.

The gun collectors waved signs at cars approaching the lot, reading: “I buy guns, $50-$200 cash.”

By the end of the day, the collectors said they had managed to buy 10 to 15 guns that otherwise would have been turned in and destroyed.
http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131966229529074700

I've often wondered how many historically significant firearms have been destroyed by these events. Or how many stolen firearms did not get back to the proper hands, or murder weapons that may have helped solve a crime. . .

[DonP]

1. Very few collector quality guns get melted down

In the last few Chicago gun "Buy Backs" they have the typical "Table 'O Guns" set up for the photo op. Three years in a row they showed a Gen I 45 SAA.

What an amazing coincidence that three public spirited Chicagoans would happen to have the same rare gun in their sock drawer and turn it in for a $50 gift certificate to Wal Mart.

Or it's the same one, from a senior level cop's personal collection that goes right back into his safe after the photos are taken.

But from a friend who works at the old Inland Steel furnace #3 where they "melt them down", we learned that they get picked over long before they get to the furnace.

[gejohnston]

2. In other words

some day Clerkes and Ravens will be rare collectibles?

[Katya Mullethov]

6. Not the guns

Just the parts

[friendly_iconoclast]

4. It's security theater, and the True Believers keep buying tickets.

Not to mention a great way to dispose of evidence and/or make money by selling junk guns to the Ceasefire numpties.

[SteveM]

3. Same thing happened in an Austin, TX "buy-back:" Good ones were "intercepted."nt

[Glassunion]

5. They should hold the "Gun buy back" events at gun shows.

[Abin Sur]

8. In a sense, they do.

It's just that the prices realized are a *lot* more negotiable.

[Abin Sur]

7. Kudos for calling it a "gun turn-in" rather than a "gun buy-back".

The term "buy-back" implies that the government owned the weapons in the first place.

In any case, when will they hold one of these event here in Denver? I want in!

[Euromutt]

9. I'm starting to wonder about the legalities of these events

I mean, I'm not entirely certain how a "turn-in" (and I agree with Abin Sur above that "turn-in" is a significantly better term than "buy-back") works legally, but it seems to me that what we in effect have here is Ceasefire Oregon (the organizers) receiving these people's guns, and then handing them over to the police.

Typical of those who were bringing in guns was Vancouver, Wash., resident Barbara Luisi, who said her gun collector ex-husband had given her a rifle 20 years ago and it had been in her garage for years.

Vancouver, Washington; it might be in the Portland metro area, but it's not in the same state, so for Ms Luisi to hand the rifle over to Ceasefire Oregon would involve transferring the weapon across state lines, which I'm fairly certain is illegal unless the transferring party is an FFL (and would be completely illegal if the weapon in question were a handgun).

Then there's also the question whether it's legal for Ceasefire Oregon to de facto purchase large numbers of firearms without having an FFL. Yes, I'm harping on the letter of the law, rather than the spirit, but so does the ATF.

And if it's possible for the submitted firearms to be "picked over" prior to destruction, well, that raises the concern that "turn-ins," "buy-backs," whatever you want to call them, may serve as a conduit to route guns (back) into the criminal circuit. Is this how members of the New Orleans PD acquire their "ham sandwiches"?

[ManiacJoe]

10. These things usually have the needed FFL on site.

[ileus]

11. Not many RG and Hi-point collectors out there...

[oneshooter]

12. If there were any 995 carbines to be found, grab them!.

[rl6214]

13. Sure would like to have one of these in El Paso

pick up a 1911 for my collection.