Pima County democrats are condemning republican Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik’s proposed gun buyback program a campaign stunt. Earlier this week, the NRA also condemned Kozachik’s move as an assault on 2nd Amendment rights.
Democrat operative and Tucson attorney, Roger White, who writes for Blog for Arizona as AZBlueMeanine, wrote on January 4, “It must be an election year for Tucson City Council. Media darling Ward 6 Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik is sponsoring a gun buy back program in the City of Tucson on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. This P.R. stunt may make some people feel better, but Gun Buybacks Are Mostly a Waste of Time and Money, Experts Say: [H]ere’s one [idea] that even the staunchest gun-control experts say might be a complete waste of time: gun buybacks.”
Another very popular democrat complained that “Kozachik picked a day when we should be discussing mental health issues and what the community can do to improve access. For him to pick the anniversary of Tucson’s tragedy is worse than the republican’s gun raffle two years ago.”
On Tuesday, January 8th, beginning at 9am, Tucson Police will be accepting firearms, .22 caliber or larger where the weapon is designed to fire a projectile that is propelled using expanding gas, that are voluntarily turned in by members of the general public. In exchange, a $50 Safeway Food Store gift card will be provided.
The event will take place at the Tucson Police Department Hardesty Sub-Station located on Alvernon Way, just north of 22nd. The buyback event will end when the City runs out of gift cards.
Gun owners, seeking a bargain on weapons, are expected to be on hand to offer amounts higher than that offered by the City to participants.
Buyback programs have not been successful in other communities. Generally criminals do not show up to sell their illegal weapons. Experts say the vast majority of weapons turned in are in poor nonworking condition and not those that would be used in the commission of a crime.
A well-publicized buyback with the Avondale Police Department resulted in 61 unwanted guns in exchange for $50 gift cards. The police didn’t track the identities or number of people who turned in firearms.
Most of the people who turned in firearms decided they either didn’t want a gun in their home or said they were unfamiliar with how to use them. Along with the 61 handguns, rifles and shotguns, police received a handheld stun gun, a homemade “zip gun,” pellet guns, and a replica handgun.
According to a statement released by the Avondale PD, all the serial numbers of the guns were checked to see whether any had been reported stolen. The guns were then checked against the national ballistics database, for possible use in crimes. All other guns were to be melted down and destroyed.
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