Cash for your guns

We still don’t know why its called a “buy-back,” since the city doesn’t supply the guns in the first place, but the Asheville Police Department has announced the dates of the program cleared by a vote by City Council on Nov. 13.

The department will pay $50 for handguns and rifles and $100 for assault weapons.

According to an e-mail from the APD, “The program is aimed at reducing accidental injury, suicide, domestic violence and celebratory gunfire in the community.”

Here are the times to sell off those weapons:

Dec. 7, from 2-6 p.m.: Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver St.
Dec. 8, from 1-5 p.m.: Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St.     
Dec. 14, from 1-5 p.m.: Shiloh Recreation Center, 121 Shiloh Road.
Dec. 15, from 1-5 p.m.: Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Drive.

Those hesitant to bring guns to public places (an understandable concern) can make arrangements to meet privately for the sale. Contact Officer Germaine Weaver at 259-5660 to do so.

All guns will be destroyed, according to the e-mail. (Sorry Daniel Boone, no black powder guns allowed.)

— Brian Postelle, staff writer

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9 thoughts on “Cash for your guns

  1. “The program is aimed at reducing accidental injury, suicide, domestic violence and celebratory gunfire in the community.”

    The program would be more successful if it were aimed at increasing crime.

  2. I’m sure it’s a great book, how could it not be Milton Friedman and the National Review gave it rave reviews. Of course none of them have to live in the inner city area where kids shooting kids is a regular occurrence.

  3. What difference does it make where an author lives?

    Lott’s documentation is exhaustive and formidable. Refute it in your own time — regardless of where YOU live.

  4. Rob Close

    I especially enjoyed reading about the Endogeneity problem in that book, Tim. Anyone who wants to back up their point using “statistic evidence” ought to be aware of that problem within studies.

    Big conclusion of that link: “the evidence also indicates that the states with the most guns have the lowest crime rate” (pg 162)

  5. Come on now Tim, place makes a big difference, but that is beside the point. At least be intellectually honest and admit that it is quite possible to sum up statistics to prove pretty much any point you want to make. I for one would rather live in a place that wasn’t populated with paranoid’s who think they need a small arsenal to defend themselves from there neighbors’, but again that is beside the point.

    You know in the end this buy back may save us tax-payers some money, less guns mean the lower likelihood that someone–anyone- gets shot, and that means lower police costs, lower adjudication costs, lower health costs, lower policing costs.

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