Buying back what they never owned??

March 1st, 2012

I have always wondered if tere was a certain psychological purpose behind the term “buyback” as it relates to guns. The government never owned them, therefore, they are not buying it back, they are merely buying it. Be that as it may, the line of the article is:

Another potential seller is Gary, who asked that his
last name not be used for fear of being burglarized.
He has four or five handguns to get rid of.

Get it? Getting the guns off the streets is supposed to make you safe, but he can’t release his last name because it will let potential robbers know he is unarmed. *That* is contradiction!

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Gun buyback will focus on city
housing

Detroit to give $50 for each weapon

July 10, 2000

BY JENNIFER DIXON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Detroit Housing Commission is hoping to get
more than 400 firearms off the streets and out of
closets during a gun buyback next week.

One of those who wants to turn in his gun for $50
cash is Melvin Altimus of Oak Park. “There’s so
much violence out there, I just want to get rid of my
gun,” he said.

The buyback is planned for July 17 and 18 at two
public housing complexes: Charles Terrace and the
Jeffries Homes. The housing commission received a
$6,450 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development to help finance the
buyback. The commission is adding $15,000 from
its crime-fighting budget, money that also comes
from HUD.

The buyback is aimed at residents of public housing
in Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods. As long
as funds are available, the commission will try not to
turn away sellers unless they show up with a large
cache.

Although crime in Detroit’s public housing
complexes is declining, the commission’s executive
director, John Nelson Jr., said getting 429 guns off
the streets is still important.

“The gun buyback initiative shores up our efforts to
protect people in and around public housing from
violence and senseless tragedy,” Nelson said.

He said he is not aware of any murders in public
housing this year. Last year, there was a suicide
involving a gun and a fatal stabbing, he said.

Buyback participants will be asked for
identification, Nelson said. Police will check
weapons to determine whether they have been
stolen or used in a crime. Stolen guns will be
returned to their lawful owners. Unless the other
guns are needed for a criminal investigation, they
will be destroyed.

Oak Park’s Altimus said he is ready to get rid of his
no-name-brand Saturday night special.

“I don’t use it. I don’t even shoot it for the New
Year,” said Altimus, 69. “I’m getting old and sick,
and I just don’t want to leave it around for anybody
else.”

Another potential seller is Gary, who asked that his
last name not be used for fear of being burglarized.
He has four or five handguns to get rid of.

Although he keeps them unloaded, he said he
doesn’t have a place in his Grosse Pointe home to
keep them secure. Grandchildren visit frequently.

“I’ve had no problems so far, but I really don’t want
any. I just don’t want them around,” he said.

This is the first time the Detroit Housing
Commission has given cash for guns. But there have
been other trade-ins in Detroit. In 1995, New
Detroit Inc. offered items including burgers, jobs,
college tuition and computers in exchange for guns.
In 1994, Ticketmaster offered two tickets worth up
to $100 for a working firearm.

Some experts have questioned the effectiveness of
buyback programs. Professor Steven Stack,
chairman of the criminal justice department at
Wayne State University, said gun buybacks
improve public safety if they get guns away from
hardened criminals. But he said he does not believe
hardened criminals are among those most likely to
sell their firearms.

For this buyback, participants must be 18 or older
and may turn in no more than four weapons per
day. They will get $50 cash for each gun. Firearms
must be unloaded and carried in a case, wrapper or
other suitable container.

Those who bring in a gun are assured amnesty by
the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office during
buyback hours for lacking a firearms permit or for
purchase or carrying violations, the commission
said.

Nelson said security will be tight. Participants will
not be allowed to change their minds unless they
have proper paperwork.

The gun buyback is part of a national HUD
initiative. This year, about 60 communities have had
buybacks that have brought in 16,000 guns. Twenty
more communities have scheduled buybacks, and
others are seeking HUD funding, said HUD
spokesman David Egner.

“It’s been very successful,” Egner said. “Those are
16,000 guns that cannot be used in any sort of
crime, to hurt anybody.”

The city’s gun buyback will be at the Charles
Terrace Community Center, 5512 Buffalo Court,
and at the Jeffries Administration Building inside
the Jeffries Homes, 3501 John C. Lodge. Hours
are 10-6, July 17 and 18.

Gun dealers are not allowed.

For more information on buybacks nationwide,
go to www.hud.gov