‘Gun Buybacks’ Proof that Desperate ‘Authorities’ Need Scapegoats

U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “As city of Poughkeepsie officials continue to grapple with a rash of gun violence, and city school district leaders deal with the implications of a shooting incident outside its high school, a second gun buyback event through the Attorney General’s Office in less than six months is scheduled in the city for the beginning of next month,” the Poughkeepsie Journal dutifully promotes. “Letitia James’ office is holding the event, in association with the city police department, Dec. 4…”

There is so much denial, hypocrisy, and outright public endangerment to unpack in such events, it’s difficult to know where to begin. We could start with the question gun owners have been asking for years: “How can government buy back something it never owned?

We could find it curious, but not unexpected, that Letitia James is taking a short break from trying to forcibly steal association assets away from NRA members not responsible for the accused misdeeds of “leadership.” She’s just grabbing some quick publicity for herself to make it look like she’s part of the solution to community violence instead of a big reason behind why the problems will only get worse under the policies she imposes.

We could also note that the Poughkeepsie Journal is “part of the USA Today Network” (a Gannett Publication), and note the media giant has never come across a gun it didn’t want to help grab. So it’s no surprise that, instead of presenting a complete report that covers all of the relevant considerations, it instead subjects its low-information, manipulable readership with what is essentially a publicity release and free advertising for the violence monopolists.

“Participants can trade in as many guns as they wish,” they obligingly parrot. “Weapons must be unloaded and transported inside a plastic bag, paper bag, or box.”

For such big poseurs about “commonsense gun safety,” that requirement endangers people unfamiliar with guns, like the widow who doesn’t know what to do with her late husband’s semiauto, and anyone around her. What steps have those offering a monetary incentive taken to ensure those following their instructions know the rules of real gun safety, where to keep it pointed, and how to clear the chamber or not touch the trigger?

How is that not creating an “attractive nuisance” that endangers the public?

“Identification is not required to take part, and no questions will be asked,” the “instructions” continue.

In other words, they are inviting, among others, “prohibited persons” to break the law, that is, encouraging what they otherwise call “gun crime.” That also happens to be a federal felony, so it’s interesting that New York’s top law enforcer has assigned herself the authority to do that. And we could go on about the state acting as a potential fence for stolen merchandise, or disposer of so-called “crime guns” (including murder weapons, all with “no questions asked!”)

It’s also interesting that everyone involved in “masterminding” this farce knows damn well it will have absolutely no effect on the situations they’re using as an excuse to put on a show exploiting the time-worn grabber mantra, “something must be done.” They just don’t know what. And they’re counting on the useful idiots dumb enough to vote for them to be unaware of the reality even recognized by the National Institute of Justice, which admitted almost 10 years ago:

“Evidence: Gun buybacks are ineffective as generally implemented. 1. The buybacks are too small to have an impact. 2. The guns turned in are at low risk of ever being used in a crime. 3. Replacement guns are easily acquired. Unless these three points are overcome, a gun buyback cannot be effective.”

Letitia James and the political opportunists know all this, but don’t dare admit that is the reason we see reports telling us “There have been more homicides [in Washington DC] so far in 2021 than any year since 2004 [and] Homicides rose in 29 major U.S. cities through September compared with the same period last year.” The major cities are Democrat-run and more likely than not part of the Bloomberg mayors club. Find one that’s not.

And check the rest for criminal activities.

A convenient ploy used by all of them is to pin the blame on straw men rather than where it belongs, so it’s because of guns, or “systemic racism,” or anything else that is politically expedient to fault rather than on actual perpetrators of violence. Another common tactic is to condemn removing such violent misfits from society as “disproportionate” and use that as “justification” to release them unchecked back into an unlimited victim pool. That’s typically one where most of the victims come from the very communities being sold a fraudulent and resentment-fueled bill of goods by their “leaders.”

So you have district attorneys premeditatedly arranging the release of known dangerous threats while admitting:

“Is there going to be an individual I divert, or put into a program, who’s going to go out and kill? You bet!”

Bringing things closer to Letitia James territory, we have a 13-year-old kid in the Bronx, one working to better himself and his community as evidenced by his attending the Manhattan Business Academy, randomly shot in the neck by an apparently deranged suspect reportedly “out on parole at the time and has several gun arrests [and] is a member of a family of reputed gang members.”

Yeah, keep letting sociopathic predators out. “Cancel” the rights of those of us who don’t need grants or mentorship programs to know it is wrong to murder and wrong to steal. Gin up mob fury for our heads If we ever commit the unforgivable act of “vigilantism” by defending ourselves with a gun.

And, oh yeah, why not hold another “buyback”? USA Today will be happy to write it up.

About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.