Dallas News Blog

I'm not saying that I am gonna, but if I was a responsible would-be robber, I'd be weighing the cost ratios involved.

Knocking over a liquor store = at least $100 each time

Turn in my gun = $50 grocery card 1x

Yeah, the math on that just isn't adding up.

Not to mention that I don't think this is addressing the intended demographic. People that turn in guns for grocery money aren't using them to commit crimes, which is ostensibly why the city is doing this.

But guns are also not the only weapons used to commit crimes. Cars are sometimes used. Cell phones. Computers. Small children (if your name is Fagin). Monkeys, apparently.

Oh, so this is the gun version of the "Clunker Rebate" they're giving for cars. Turn in your old crappy gun for a rebate towards buying a new more environmentally friendly gun! OK, OK, it's not a direct rebate, but now you can take fifty bucks that you would have spent on groceries and use them to buy that new gun.

I would use my gun to get all your $100 bills, and then leave with the cash and my gun, IJS.

Sorry but... this is the stupidest thing in the history of ever. The people who turn on their guns aren't criminals and their guns haven't been stolen to be used in crimes.

Lots of old people with ancient pieces or old-ass .22's (yeah b/c those are always used to rob banks...) So, it's really an antique swap-meet, only the only thing we're swapping is old trinkets and useless rifles that (apparently) nobody wants.

We'd better serve the residents of Dallas, especially the elderly, if we did a sort of an antique trade-in. Trade on your vintage tools, your vintage furniture, etc., and do a giant City of Dallas Flea Market to raise funds for the convention center hotel.

You're assuming I'd get caught.

But you're also assuming I'm serious.

The thing is - as I said in the latter part of that first comment I made - the people turning in these guns are not the audience the city says it wants.

From what I understand of the demographics of the people who went to the event last year, most people are older and want to remove the firearms from their homes so robbers and grandchildren can't get their hands on them. I say that is a pretty worthwhile cause. Also, old firearms that are poorly maintained are much more dangerous than a well maintained firearm. Kudos to Dwaine and the responsible folks who turn in their unwanted firearms!

Notice I did not say 'guns'. Guns are larger and are not easily carried by a single person. [Although I once carried two 30mm cannons on my shoulders...]

BTW: If someone is bringing in an anti-aircraft gun or a howitzer, I will give you a couple $50 gift cards to be fair...

dt&ot

"Come on, how many AK-47's, MAC-10's or any assault rifles did the pro-tem collect last year?"

Exactly none.

"Nothing wrong with getting a bunch of old, worthless, handguns destroyed. As others have pointed out, poorly maintained guns can be dangerous and destroying those is no doubt a good thing."

I appreciate this and maybe there is some value to what is being done. But.......

They should bill the program as a way to get poorly maintained guns out of peoples houses so people don't hurt their selves or other people. Has anyone ever heard of this program being advertised that way? I have only heard of it as a crime prevention tool and I don't think there is any proof that this program protects anyone from crime. Is it important to call something what it is? A boondoggle?

dt&ot

Maybe they should give out your choice of a crack rock or some meth in exchange for a gun. That way you remove the gun from the street and actually target people that use guns to commit crimes. Moral hazard could be an issue though if people steal guns to turn in for the meth.