Gun buybacks are the most ridiculous idea from the guns-cause-crime people.

Criminals to not turn in their guns.

Many of the guns turned in are not operational, or they have been stored away for years where they are of no help or harm to anyone.

The no questioned asked policy allows guns used in crimes to be destroyed without a trace.

The money pissed away on these programs could be used to hire more police officers or to hire teachers and mental health workers that could help prevent crime in the first place.

Article on buyback programs: Web Link

Anti-gun liberals and their money will soon be parted...

I'm already gathering all my junk guns and getting them ready. Last year I got $2000 from these misguided folks.

And the grad students? Do they actually believe a gun buyback is going to alter gun crime statistics in this area? Gun crimes are so low here you can't even get a large enough sample to measure effectively. Their parents should be ashamed of them squandering their tuition on silly research that will lead to no useful outcome.

Off my soapbox now...

Good grief. All those well-meaning folks that haven't got a clue can now check off that they've done their part to fight gun crime. Although it won't do anything else, at least they can feel virtuous. What a waste of time.

Over 10 million guns sold in 2011 and about 100 million in the last 12 years. Plus all the ones bought and stored in closets and basements for the last 100 years. We don't have enough money to buy all the weapons back. The only people turning them in are 'good' citizens not criminals.
This is a very misguided program. We need to come up with a solution that makes sense. Something has to be done!

H I L A R I O U S.

There isn't one shred of evidence these gun buybacks "curb accidental shootings, suicides and homicides".

If tax money wasn't wasted on this stuff I wouldn't care. But the funds donated to buy the guns don't pay the salaries of the cops standing their collecting them.

These gun-control nut jobs are getting out of control: Web Link

Anyone know what time this buyback is scheduled? I can't wait to be there with thousands of dollars in cash, buying the better quality guns for pennies on the dollar. I can bid a lot more than $100 or $200 for a gun that deserves to be rescued from destruction.

Respected commenters misunderstand the purpose of gun buybacks. No one thinks we will collect 300 million guns this way. But providing a safe and anonymous opportunity for citizens to safely dispose of guns they no longer want or are uncomfortable retaining due to non-usage or lack of safety knowledge is a needed service. Since it hardly needs pointing out that selling guns on Craig's List or eBay is not the most responsible way to do it.

The fact that the buyback is done anonymously and with no questions asked also allows people who acquired their guns in a questionable manner to get rid of them without having to declare their possession in such a way as to incriminate themselves. And the point of the buy back is that they won't be forced to sell their guns to people whom they know nothing about with respect to their intentions. Like those of you intending to show up and "outbid" the buyback. Good luck convincing total strangers to sell their guns to you. At a buyback. In front of the police. Without a gunshow loophole or a background check. These people are not coming to a buyback for the money. They are coming to avoid letting go of their guns to strangers who don't activate against gun violence. We represent that surety, with the cooperation of the police departments.

The other much more important purpose of the buybacks and rallies and marches is to raise public awareness of the statistics that 92% of gun owners, 89% of Republicans, and 84% of card-carrying NRA members are in agreement with the movements to legislate our way into a safer community right now and we want to make sure that those voices are louder than the naysayers.

Thank you for reading this far, if you bothered.

Sonia Khan (member of Silicon Valley Community Against Gun Violence)

With all due respect to the naive organizers who think this will reduce gun violence, is this even legal? I mean, they are hoping to get illegally possessed guns off the street - if they are stolen, you are only encouraging theft, and then buy stolen property. Also, we have state and federal laws for transfer of firearms. If you don't even ask for ID and don't check they actually own the firearm, how on Earth can you do a firearm transfer as prescribed by law?

Also, someone correctly mentioned here that a lot of guns used in crimes can be easily destroyed through this program , so you are actually facilitating a cover up for a crime(if these guns are later destroyed, as it is the case for some other similar programs).

Personally, I think it is a waste of resources. A much better idea would be to buy back tese guns and then re-sell them legally. With all the required
Background checks to those who are interested and using the profit to finance the Police. I am sure there are some collectible
And valuable guns among those turned in, or even valuable parts.

If you simply melt them down, it is vandalism and a waste of resources, which can be classified as misappropriation of public funds.

Maybe the claim about no questions asked is trick, and they are in fact recording the license plates of people who come turn their guns, and later go after them for various crimes , if these guns were stolen or crimes were committed with them? In which case, this would great. Bu I am afraid they are honestly just wasting money and encourage more home robberies and help thieves sell their stolen guns.