You know those gun-buyback programs where police purchase weapons in order to destroy them? This week, a North Carolina law goes into effect that blocks police from destroying confiscated or unclaimed firearms.
In the polarized post-Sandy Hook political era -- with some liberal states tightening gun laws while conservative legislatures have moved aggressively to loosen restrictions -- North Carolina's gun-destruction policy is among the most unusual policies to take effect.
The so-called "save the gun" law, at the urging of the National Rifle Assn., breezed through votes by North Carolina's Republican-controlled Legislature in the spring as the state moved to strengthen gun rights. In October, concealed-carry owners will also be allowed to take guns into bars and restaurants (as long as they don't drink), or leave their guns in their vehicles while at schools and universities.
The new law (full text here) requires that law-enforcement agencies donate, keep or sell confiscated guns to licensed gun dealers, provided the weapons aren't damaged or missing serial numbers. In such cases, guns may be destroyed.
Some North Carolina law enforcement agencies had conducted gun buyback programs before the law went into effect Sunday. An effort in Wilmington last week netted 23 rifles and and shotguns and 44 handguns, police said. Held in honor of two local victims of gun violence, the gun buyback ran out of money in 30 minutes.
To sell or destroy weapons in the past, North Carolina law enforcement agencies needed a judge's permission.
The new statute essentially limits local police's options and strips local judges of power in deciding how to deal with unclaimed guns -- a top-down move fully supported by the NRA.
Yeah the important thing is not to save lives but to keep as many weapons on the streets as possible. I swear the NRA will not be happy until there are shootouts on street corners every night all over the country.
Assholes!
If you were thinking of moving to North Carolina, don't!
"Donate, keep or sell" confiscated guns to licensed gun dealers???? Since when do gun dealers need donations? They're in business to sell guns and frequently their business gets rather shady. Should law enforcement agencies be helping the gun dealers? What's the point of confiscating any guns from anyone then? What the NC lawmakers are saying is: "Hey, burglar, turn over your gun peacefully when you get caught and you can have your best buddy go to the nearest gun dealer in a couple of weeks and buy it back and save it for me until I finish serving my time." Real smart, North Carolina.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
It's odd how differently some of us construe freedom, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how this plays out.
(There's an ancient Chinese curse:
"May your life be interesting.")
Do you think the bartenders in NC will all card their customers for guns before they serve them?
ReplyDeleteWhat could possibly go wrong?
Maybe the police should donate the guns to poor, inner city kids who can't afford to buy their own. Or in the eyes of the NRA and the RWNJs are these the wrong sort of citizens?
ReplyDeleteThe next thing these idiots will probably try is to declare guns "people" and allow them full constitutional rights. They've done if for corporations, why not inanimate objects--especially sacred ones like guns?
Once thought of moving my family to North Carolina. Glad I didn't! You can protect kids from stupid.
Oops, that should have been "You CAN'T protect kids from stupid."
DeleteEasy way around this. One gun dealer (license only) who takes the donations and then destroys the guns.
ReplyDeleteThe real motivation behind the NRA is money. Their Board of Directors is made up of weapon manufacturers and dealers, and a few politicos to keep the laws in their favor.
ReplyDeleteFear sells weapons, ammo, and all the cool accessories that go with a full weapons rig. So this NC gun sell back law is counter-intuitive to the NRA's bottom line - oops!
The NRA needs guns in the hands of criminals and crazies so the general public will feel the need to purchase guns to protect themselves from the criminals and crazies.
ReplyDeleteIt's a win win from their point of view.
How these people sleep at night is beyond my comprehension.
They sleep with a gun tucked tightly between their thighs.
DeleteSo many gun deaths in this country—daily. Accidental shootings are prolific, morons who have anger management problems and no judgement at all are armed and stupid. And the number of small children dying in shootings makes me weep.
ReplyDeleteWith that said . . . and I've said it before--the one thing the NRA needs to confront is a busload of armed four year olds who are over sugared and haven't had a nap to show up at their national board meeting with a few of those dealer non- buy back weapons. I figure the four year olds are about the emotional age of the idiots running around shooting themselves and others. Lets see if that works a few things out for them at the NRA.
But don't forget, the NRA doesn't allow any weapons at their conventions or meetings!
DeleteNew bumper sticker
ReplyDeleteSave the guns --- Shoot the whales
It doesn't roll of the tongue as well, does it?
DeleteSadly, with all the accidental shootings we've had in the past few months, a far more accurate phrase would be:
DeleteSave the guns---Shoot the children
Does it say whether the bar/restaurant law is an unrestricted "right" or at the owners' discretion? If the former, along with subsidizing gun dealers really illustrates that small government mentality, eh?
ReplyDelete-FresnoGrifter
Chicago and Detroit have liberal policies and chicago has strict gun control. They are both in shambles in many ways. Though Chicago has other pretty great attributes. And don't use the auto industry argument. Yes, that was a major point in D's downfall. But the downfall would have slowly happened without the auto industry shittorm.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that the areas surrounding Chicago do not have strict gun control, right? And that there is not a magical force field preventing guns in the surrounding areas from getting over the city line, right?
Delete"But the downfall would have slowly happened without the auto industry shittorm."
And you have the advanced public policy education and professional experience and expertise to know and understand the complexities of Detroit's situation and what has led to its current status and to reduce it to a single sentence?
I didn't think so.
I have lived in NC since I was 10 years old ( 52 now ) My family and I are in the process of liquidating our assets here and either moving to the Northwest or Canada we have family in Moose Jaw and Swift Current Sask. If anyone is interested in a property swap all offers will be taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine has been talking about moving from NY to NC for years. She's a teacher and, with the craziness happening in education in your state, she has decided that she cannot possibly survive down there.
DeleteLet me get this straight, concealed carry is approved for good guys with guns because good guys don't drink carrying guns?
ReplyDeleteOur comfort level is set.
Will the pro-gun-life folks start picketing buy back clinics? Will people turning in guns need to watch a video showing what happens to a gun when it is melted down (aborted)?
ReplyDeleteAt what point during the manufacturing process does a piece of metal become a viable gun? If a machining error is made, and the metal scraped will the manufacturer have to report to the authorities that they had to destroy a gun?
Important questions if guns become so sacrosanct that they can no longer be destroyed.
So, now corporations AND guns are "people"?
ReplyDeleteA gun is a terrible thing to waste, but our kids are just collateral damage. New Law. All guns given over have their serial number ground off by an officer before the "reward" is given.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I see both sides here on this issue.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, gun-buyback programs have proven to be woefully ineffective at reducing gun violence, especially in big cities where gun violence is a major problem.
On the other hand, I think individual North Carolina cities or counties should have the right to determine whether they want a gun-buyback program or not rather than have it determined at the state level.
I guess what I'm saying is that as a North Carolinian, to me this issue is awash.