New Bedford gun exchange nets more than 100 firearms
NEW BEDFORD — Organizers touted Sunday’s gun exchange as a huge success, saying it took about three times as many firearms off the streets as last year’s effort.
The Rev. David Lima, executive minister of the Inter-Church Council, one of the sponsors, called the community response overwhelming. Although the total number of firearms collected won’t be known until today, he projects it will triple the 41 firearms yielded at a similar gun exchange held last October.
*sigh* Once again, with feeling: You can't buy "back" something that was never yours in the first place. I'm certain that the usage in this particular instance is simply a case of languid journalism rather than any sinister connotations; however at some point in the genesis of the term it would not surprise me in the least to find the terminology most deliberate. Words mean things. Calling a program whereby businesses are browbeaten into donating gift cards to exchange for old and useless firearms a "gun buyback" is like saying that a repo man is merely a "reverse loan officer" or some other semantic gymastics.
And yes, once again:
He [New Bedford mayor Mayor Scott W. Lang] said many of the handguns turned in were "Saturday Night specials."
In other words, 100 year old Iver Johnson revolvers, Lorcin pot metal wonders, or WWII era Baby Browning knock-offs. Grandma cleans out the broom closet, finds recently departed Grampa's WWII Luger bring-back, the family panics because ZOMG GUN!!!!, and presto! A piece of history is destroyed! (Or finds its way into someone's collection for $50 worth of Whole Foods gift cards...) It's always suspect when they don't post any pictures of the firearms "taken off the street" - because a good chunk of the time there's a dozen or so pellet guns, rusted single-shot shotguns, or Marlin model 60s that appear to have been stored in brine.
When they can't even dredge up a good "junk on the bunk" shot, you know it was a failure...
That is all.
6 comments:
Also telling: when they use the term "Saturday Night Special", they never use the full term: Saturday Night Niggertown Special.
Gee, I wonder why that is?
First and foremost, I have an unhealthy obsession with Iver Johnsons.
But WTF is up with these gun buyback programs? It would be illegal for anyone in MA to buy a gun, no questions/no papers. Heck, even licensed gun dealers cannot buy without recording your ID.
Why oh frickin WHY can I not get in on that action ? I'd be happy to stand on a streetcorner and buy every IJ that walked by....
"The firearms collected included a Derringer, a Chinese assault rifle with a bayonet affixed, a German Luger handgun and a Colt .45 handgun."
I like how that sporterized Norico SKS is now an "Assault Rifle"...I hope the "German Luger" and "Colt .45" are just as bogus, otherwise I bet they'll be melting down some REALLY valuable old guns...
Ditto. I used to live in western NC, and Asheville had occasional gun "buybacks". Just once, I'd have liked to have the cash and time together to stand across the street from the cop shop and out-bid those f*cking jerks. They were so damn smug about cutting up those nice old rifles and shotguns, too.
Yeah, let's get those cheap guns off the street so poor people won't be able to afford to defend themselves.
Good strategy for keeping poor people, of all races, totally dependent on the .gov.
Not to mention living in fear for their lives.
B Smith. I still live in Asheville. I have an old busted Iver Johnson 22 mag revolver that I can't find parts anywhere for. Maybe I can get 50 bucks for it at one of these buybacks...
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