Posted on 12/15/2004 8:14:35 AM PST by looscnnn
Columbia is hoping to reduce crime by reducing the number of guns in the city.
The city will be offering $50 to $100 per firearm to those who turn in their weapons from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Capital City Stadium.
When you take guns off the streets you save lives, City Councilman E.W. Cromartiesaid at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Make our streets, homes and neighborhoods safe.
The idea for Gun Amnesty Day came from the Unity 2004 summit in October, which focused on improving services and programs to decrease youth violence.
Unity 2004 leaders gathered Tuesday morning for a follow-up session and were told by City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine that a Teen Hot Line will be available in January. By dialing 311, teens can talk to specially trained operators who will offer guidance regarding violence issues.
Teens who are in gangs can call if they want to know how to get out. If they have information they want to share, they can do so anonymously, Devine said.
Saturday, people will have the opportunity to turn in guns with no questions asked, Cromartie said.
Individuals will receive $50 to $100 per firearm, depending on the type of gun and whether it is operational. The guns will be destroyed.
For safety reasons, organizers ask for all guns to be unloaded before exchange.
Similar programs have been tried in the countrys major metropolitan areas, including 10 years ago in Columbia.
In April 1994, more than 350 weapons were swapped for gift certificates. The department collected a variety of guns including rifles, .22s, .38s, semiautomatic weapons and sawed-off shotguns.
City Manager Charles Austin, then police chief, recalled one man who turned in a gun and refused the incentive. He said the man was prone to domestic violence and wanted the gun out of his home to prevent him from using it on his wife.
When you take guns off the streets you save lives, City Councilman E.W. Cromartie said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Make our streets, homes and neighborhoods safe.
Note to E.W: Yes, you save the lives of criminals (don't you have drug warlords down there?) since they will now have all the guns. And you make the streets, homes, and neighborhoods safer for them also. It would be great if you could somehow try to make the leap to reality. It will be a big leap for you, but try to do it anyway.
Maybe we should have a 'liberal politician buyback program'. Anyone turning in a liberal politician gets a check, and a hazard is taken off the streets.
Cool! I could turn my .22 into a 7.62x39, a Winchester 170 into an SKS - a nearly 100% return on investment! or turn around and buy something even more valuable off someone else in line.
What: Gun Amnesty Day, where anyone turning in a firearm can receive $50 to $100, depending on the weapon and whether it is operational.
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Capital City Stadium, 301 S. Assembly St.
For more information: Call Columbia police at 545-3500.
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Sheesh! Take me out to the ballgame!
**Of course he was, you can't get them "off the street" if they are taken to a dealer.***
We had a widow woman near here who still had her husband's guns. The local police got wind of it and paid her a visit. Now because this is not a big city the police paid her for for the guns as they wanted them for themselves. Not knowing the value she sold them cheap!
It still makes the neighbors mad as they were willing to pay fair market value to her. I personally know the neighbors and, yes, they would have given her fair market value.
Great idea, Sender.
I'd contribute to that 527.
Thoughts like this keep America great!
If you have your Christmas shopping done, and want to meet me in Columbia at 10 AM this Saturday, FReepmail me or drop an email to ds42a AT bellsouth dot net. If you are a gun dealer and can appraise weapons, let me know. I'll contact a gun dealer friend and see if he can meet us out there.
I'll check on a permit. (Swampy, I hit the SC ping list, fyi.)
Recycle? :-))
Great advertising as the crooks now know that many of the people leaving will be unarmed and carrying cash. The scum wouldn't hit them at the scene but a few blocks away.
ME TOO.
The 'RebelYellers' don't much like
going into Columbia, but we'll be
there with you PPM.
Sheesh, I have a POS bolt-action shotgun I'd gladly take $50 for, especially since it's worth about $0. Unfortunately, it's not worth driving to Columbia for the money.
Idiots.
Thought about what you wrote I can see where folks from Forest Acres, coming back through Rosewood Dr. and Henley Homes... Or, coming home to anywhere using drug-dealing Bluff Road could be disasterous.
Wonder if that figured into the plans for the buyback?
Not too sure on that, gives the impression that they would be chopped up/melted down and made into new ones. I wouldn't want to give that impression, especially to those that are sick in the head and think that there should be no guns. I am just as willing to buy their guns.
Hmmmm, I missed this snippet before. Think I'll call over there tomorrow and ask what they do with the guns after the buyback. Evidently "operational" is preferable.
You done good, ppm. I would have pinged this one, for sure. But I don't get home until about 9PM on Wednesdays, and I can understand why you wanted to get this one pinged.
These bozos need a Freepin'!
If they would announce these things in advance I'd go buy a crate of $40 .25 auto's and unload with a HUGE profit margin!!
Sounds like there's money to be had for junk. Non-operation rusted crap? Hey, it's worth $50. That'll really help reduce crime, eh? This is just feel-good nonsense.
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