Buy back guns, boost the economy

The Washington Post ^ | December 18, 2012 | Matt Miller

[MinorityRepublican]

Everyone knows we need to reduce gun violence in America. Everyone knows we still need to boost the economy, too. Usually these goals are debated in completely different policy silos. But what if there was a way to boost the economy and shrink gun violence? Wouldn’t that be the holy grail at this hour? Might that not answer the president’s call for new ideas?

Allow me to propose a massive, debt-financed gun buyback program.

Here’s the case for it. Critics of fresh gun-safety measures argue that laws pushed at moments like this won’t make a dent in gun violence. Banning assault weapons, limiting magazine capacity or closing background-check loopholes, we’re told, do nothing about the estimated 250 million guns already in private hands.

The gun lobby is surely wrong to suggest that the measures above won’t save some lives. If Aurora shooter James Holmes hadn’t had an assault rifle and high-capacity clips, for example, far fewer people than 70 would have been killed or injured that awful night.

But the gun lobby is right about the existing stock of weapons. The 12,000 Americans murdered with guns every year are killed with guns already out there.

The right response isn’t to shrug and say we’re powerless. If we’re serious, we need to think bigger. A gun buyback program could be the way.

[MinorityRepublican]

[Delta 21]

MY GUNS ARE NOT FOR SALE.

[listenhillary]

Once we hit 500 guns per 100 people, I’ll feel a bit better.

[04-Bravo]

I agree that we need to help boost the economy.

I’ll try to do my part: For 2013, I’ll make a commitment to locate and purchase a vintage Colt lightweight Commander chambered in .45 ACP.

[samadams2000]

Yes it would be like the government to offer you $200 for your personal liberty and freedom.

[hemogoblin]

If Aurora shooter James Holmes hadn’t had an assault rifle and high-capacity clips, for example, far fewer people than 70 would have been killed or injured that awful night.

Journalists and liberals really do lack basic critical thinking skills. Seung-Hui Cho had a two pistols, one of them a .22, not an "assault rifle" in sight, and he killed more people.

[mnehring]

Here is the unspoken part of the equation.

The government buys the gun from you for $50

They sell it to a Mexican drug cartel for $500

They claim the profit

You then can’t defend yourself from the criminals

You are one less person they have to pay out social security to

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’d just like to be able to afford a Marlin Model 60. First wife forced me to sell that and my shotgun.

[avacado]

I see the Washington Post is now hiring brain surgeons...

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, taking away the rights of 300 million people MAY save SOME lives, but doing away with “gun free zones” will definitely save far more.

[Adder]

you first, matt...tell us how it goes fo ya....

[Sarah Barracuda]

Anyone that gives away their gun should put a nice big sign in front of their house saying “This house is no longer armed, robbers welcome, but please wipe your feet before you enter”

[dirtymac]

This is a twofer idiot. This kind of defict spending will not boost the economy. Never has never will.

Buying back guns, even if 90% of the gun owners sold their guns, which is a huge amount; this would still leave 10%
of the gun owners armed and dangerous. Unilateral disarming does not work. look at the cold war for instance. leaving us once again only with the criminals and the Government (which is the real reason) with guns. citizens are now defensless and easy pickins for either of these two immoral groups.

[matt1234]

This is a twofer idiot.

Yes, at least two. He's proposing borrowing money to buy something that will presumably be destroyed. How does that boost the economy? Libs are fools.

[Nowhere Man]

I have a Marlin Model 60, nice gun, easy to maintain.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I had on for many years until my first wife said “we need to sell these guns with kids in the house” and I took a bath on them at a pawn shop. One of these days I’ll be able to afford another one.

[Dead Corpse]

Use my tax money, stolen from me, to buy back my guns, while pointing government guns at me, also paid for by my tax money...

And this is supposed to boost the economy?

This is criminally stupid.

[Zeppo]

Here’s a great idea to reduce traffic fatalities - let’s have a car buyback program to get all of those murderous vehicles off of the road.

[Who is John Galt?]

Here’s a great idea to reduce traffic fatalities - let’s have a car buyback program to get all of those murderous vehicles off of the road.

And we could ban any vehicle capable of speeds over 15 MPH, except for emergency vehicles! It would prevent most accidents which cause injuries or deaths, and save tens of thousands of lives every year - if we didn't all starve to death, waiting for rotting food to be delivered at our local grocery stores...