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The Tucson Police Department also held a gun buyback Tuesday. Police want to destroy the 206 firearms turned in at the buyback. But the National Rifle Association says that would violate Arizona law.
A line of people with guns formed in front of the mid-town Tucson police station well before the 9 a.m. starting time for the buyback.
At a command post in the parking lot, officers checked weapons to make sure they hadn't been stolen or used in a crime, and took the guns. The people who turned them in got a $50 Safeway gift card for every gun — money donated by the grocery chain and by private contributors.
Anna Jolivet had four old rifles she didn't want: "They belonged to my husband and he passed away four years ago. I haven't had any success in having someone take 'em off of me since then so, I thought this a good time to turn them in."
That was exactly what Republican Tucson city councilman Steve Kozachik expected when he asked the police to do the buyback. What he didn't expect was the response after he announced the event.
"I've been getting threats," Kozachik says. "I've been getting emails. I've been getting phone calls in the office trying to shut this thing down or we're gonna sue you or who do you think you are?"
Todd Rathner may sue. Rathner is an Arizona lobbyist and a national board member of the NRA. He has no problem with the gun buyback, but he does have a problem with the fate of the guns once police take possession of them.
"We do believe that it is illegal for them to destroy those guns," he says.
Gun buy backs are a waste of money, however "illegal to destroy guns"... Seriously?
"If property has been abandoned to the police, then they are required by ARS 12-945 to sell it to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and that's exactly what they should do," he says.
That way, Rathner says the guns can be put back in circulation or given away.
The Tucson city attorney calls that a misreading of the law.
Councilman Kozachik says the guns aren't being abandoned; they're being turned-in voluntarily.
According to the gun control crowd, guns are people and are killing everybody. Had nothing to do with the person pulling the trigger.
Gun buy backs are a waste of money, however "illegal to destroy guns"... Seriously?
If you read the story, it is technically illegal for the local government to destroy anything surplus or abandoned without attempting to first sell it.
Rathner says Arizona state law forces local governments to sell seized or abandoned property to the highest bidder.
"If property has been abandoned to the police, then they are required by ARS 12-945 to sell it to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and that's exactly what they should do," he says.
$50 Safeway card for each firearm?
what a rip-off
$50 Safeway card for each firearm?
what a rip-off
My uncle would happily take $50 for his old .22 Marlin. It went for about $20 new, he paid $15 for it in the late 80's because he wanted the stock. As it is now (bad barrel), it's worth maybe $5 as scrap.
The problem is that these gun owners chose to give their guns to the police. They knew their guns were going to be destroyed. Why does the NRA have to stick their nose in this? And according to the AZ attorney general, this is not a violation of the law, because these guns are being handed over voluntarily.
Even the radical left has to admit that guns are property and often valuable property. Apparently the people who operate the gun buyback make no effort to determine if the guns are stolen for fear of scaring off some of the buyback crowd who may be crooks tho trade guns for cash or get money for a gun they used in a crime and otherwise would throw off a bridge.
The problem is that these gun owners chose to give their guns to the police. They knew their guns were going to be destroyed. Why does the NRA have to stick their nose in this? And according to the AZ attorney general, this is not a violation of the law, becasue these guns are being handed over voluntarily.
