Many major cities, from LA to NY to Chicago, have something called “gun buyback” programs once or twice a year now.
With these programs, they essentially give people cash or gift cards for turning in guns, no questions asked, in a move to keep guns off the streets.
But of course, as with all “community safety” programs, there’s money being funneled somewhere.
The St. Charles Police Department, in the Chicago area, was caught selling 20 of the guns received from a buyback to a dealer.
This is pretty obscene. They entice people to give them their property, then sell it for a profit. This isn’t a police auction for seized property—this is a program where people are coerced into giving up their legal and illegal guns for cash.
There’s value in these guns,” [St. Charles Police Chief ] Lamkin said. “They’re not illegal guns. Quite honestly, it’s a bottom line for us.”
Well, at least he’s honest about the reason for this program.
It has nothing to do with safety. It’s only for cash.
So if you’ve got an old gun around the house you’re tempted to turn into a police buyback for a hundred bucks or so, just keep it. And if you need the money, you can sell it on your own for more—and keep the police department from marking it up and selling it on.
