Don't want that gun anymore? Here's how to safely get rid of it
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SEATTLE -- Recent gun violence has prompted several cities across the country to host gun buyback programs to take guns off the streets.
After the Newtown shooting, Bridgeport, Connecticut hosted a gun buyback, and residents raised money to buy and destroy guns people didn't want anymore.
A similar program in Los Angeles last month netted more than 2,000 guns -- traded in for grocery gift cards.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says a buyback is worth considering, but he doesn't believe it keeps guns off the street.
"It's a little trying to bail out the ocean with a leaky bucket with a gun buyback," McGinn said. "I'd feel a lot better if we had more control at the front end."
What should gun owners do if they don't want a firearm anymore? You don't need a license to sell a gun privately, but you also might not know much about the buyer. A dealer can give you an idea of a gun's value and resell it for you.
"The best thing to do at that point is bring it in to a gun shop," said Butch with Butch's Gun Shop. "Let us take care of the paperwork and get it done right. Keeps you safe, the gun goes away and goes to someone reputable. It's not going to wind up on the street unless it gets stolen."
If you want a gun out of circulation, you can choose to have it melted down. That was the end result of a gun buyback in Cleveland, where police destroyed nearly 1,000 guns.
You can do the same by giving your gun to a police or sheriff's department.
"What we don't want them to do is put it in their attic, put it in their closet, where it's going to get stolen," said King County Sheriff John Urquhart. "Give it to us. If they don't want the gun anymore, they can turn it in to us and we'll destroy it."
If you get rid a gun, don't forget the ammunition. Gun dealers and police will destroy or recycle it for you, no charge.
After the Newtown shooting, Bridgeport, Connecticut hosted a gun buyback, and residents raised money to buy and destroy guns people didn't want anymore.
A similar program in Los Angeles last month netted more than 2,000 guns -- traded in for grocery gift cards.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says a buyback is worth considering, but he doesn't believe it keeps guns off the street.
"It's a little trying to bail out the ocean with a leaky bucket with a gun buyback," McGinn said. "I'd feel a lot better if we had more control at the front end."
What should gun owners do if they don't want a firearm anymore? You don't need a license to sell a gun privately, but you also might not know much about the buyer. A dealer can give you an idea of a gun's value and resell it for you.
"The best thing to do at that point is bring it in to a gun shop," said Butch with Butch's Gun Shop. "Let us take care of the paperwork and get it done right. Keeps you safe, the gun goes away and goes to someone reputable. It's not going to wind up on the street unless it gets stolen."
If you want a gun out of circulation, you can choose to have it melted down. That was the end result of a gun buyback in Cleveland, where police destroyed nearly 1,000 guns.
You can do the same by giving your gun to a police or sheriff's department.
"What we don't want them to do is put it in their attic, put it in their closet, where it's going to get stolen," said King County Sheriff John Urquhart. "Give it to us. If they don't want the gun anymore, they can turn it in to us and we'll destroy it."
If you get rid a gun, don't forget the ammunition. Gun dealers and police will destroy or recycle it for you, no charge.
4-Q
What about my assault vehicle? It clearly is made to break the speed limit which exceeds far past 100 mph. They should have a buyback for that. I could seriously hurt someone with it.
http://nation.foxnews.com/gun-rights/2013/01/03/fbi-more-people-killed-hammers-clubs-each-year-riflesÂ
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 How about a hammer buy back?
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 How about kitchen knife buy back?
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I have some big rocks they can buy back from me....
Hey I have a Iver johnston .22 I found in my dads tackel rusted shut I think I just found me a buyer.!
Ah, FOX news...the source of all that is paranoid.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords -Benjamin Franklin
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@newspuppy Do you really think the hyperbole that gun laws will result in the US descending to fascism is helping the pro-gun crowd? You might want to consider that posts like this might make you appear a tad paranoid and, possibly, someone that shouldn't have a gun. Just a tip!Â
One man with a gun can control 100 without one. ... Make mass searches and hold executions for found arms." --V.I. Lenin.
Yea let's get rid of all the guns,hold hands and beat sprit drums .
@BocaBob Just a tip, but quoting Lenin is a dog whistle that only inspires the pro-gun crowd. And, let's face it, that group is a minority. So, maybe try something more up to date... You know, less paranoid and more 21st century.Â
here is one or two  a little newer We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans ..." Bill Clinton (USA TODAY, 11 March 1993, page 2A)Banning guns is an idea whose time has come." -- Deleware Senator Joseph Biden Associated Press 11/18/93
The 2nd is a Right like right you have to you'er singel mindedness.
Butt hurt liberals
 @Sheila Lechner Unless the anti 2nd amenders want to discuss the social, public health and economic cost of no guns, then they're never going to gain any headway. When you want to weigh in on the cost of every woman is raped because she can't defend herself you might have a chance. When you want to weigh in on every person who is killed because they can't defend themselves then you might have a chance. You pointedly ignore the cost of not having firearms and no rational discussion can only present one side.
and how do those equate to fascism? unless the 2nd amenders want to discuss the social, public health and economic cost of their guns, then they're going to lose the whole thing. and, the 2nd amendment is about a well-regulated militia, not simply to own a gun or even one that has "grenade launcher" on its list of options.
 @BocaBob Lot of these "peaceful" liberals are calling for the last part of that quote. Like this guy right here: http://thehayride.com/2013/01/yall-know-who-and-where-donald-kaul-is/
 @dg54321  @BocaBob Yeah, wow just sums it up. I don't even know where to begin after reading that article.
WOW is all I say.
Why would I sell my guns to the Government when they will probably just land in the hands of Drug Cartels via Operation Fast and Furious! */ Sarcasm off :)
@gastoys Those guns originated from legal retailers....Sure Operation Fast and Furious was a mess, but the fact remains that US retailers are freely selling to gangs/drug cartels.Â
@Sheila Lechner  if a gun store refused to sell to some gang kid with saggy pants and tattoos on his neck, he'd get sued for profiling by the aclu, naacap, rainbow coalition.....etc. etc..
Um, nice sterotype. But the profile of the mass shooters is a suburban, white male.Â
 @Sheila Lechner Wrong! This is just the post where misinformation is generated. US retailers follow FFL regulations. Gangs and drug cartels most certainly do not obtain their firearms legally. Damn!!! I wish people would get this right. I ask that you educate yourself. http://www.atf.gov/firearms/how-to/become-an-ffl.html
 @Sheila Lechner  @SeattleJoe You know damn well that your point about "legal" guns is the point. Just like legal cars driven by drunk drivers killing people started out as purchased from a legal manufacturer just like the firearms. Stolen cars and cards driven by drunks can sourced back to their manufacturers. But wait, cars aren't on your list of things you don't understand and have an irrational fear of. Oh shucks, you won't get by with convincing people with your bad arguments.
A drive by "driving" is called hit and run.
You want to punish millions of law abiding gun owners for the actions of a very few. If we started banning cars because of drunks killing people then I could see the argument but singling out one thing that you don't like is stupid.
@SeattleJoe How are you able to equate guns to cars or tire irons? Last I checked we don't have illegal tire irons killing people. Or drive-by, um, drivings? Illegal guns are a problem and they can be sourced back to the manufacturers. And hopefully they'll have to start paying some big bucks just like the tobacco manufacturers. I mean, they're paying millions (billions?) to reimburse states and national/international gov'ts for the damage they've caused regardless if their customers used legal or illegal cigarettes.
 @Sheila Lechner So much ignorance, so little time.
1. So you're assuming that all retailers comply with regulations? I mean, a buck is a buck and a gun sale is a lotta bucks, right? In fact one report by the ATF says that a lot of the illegal guns come from a small number of retailers. Overall, the retailers are very careful. The penalties are stiff and the ATF is very strict. I have talked with these guys, I know what I'm talking about. Also, you say a gun sale is a lot of bucks. Actually the margin on a firearm is not that much so again you don't know what you are talking about.
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2. So F&F was a snafu. And maybe the ATF *did* entice them to sell.... Don't you see a problem where you are trying to gloss over a Federal agency directing gun vendors to break federal law? The laws overseen by that very agency. Your willingness to push anything aside for your view is astounding.
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3. But, regardless, all guns (legal or illegal) originate from a legal manufacturer, correct? So? Really, so? All cars whether used in crimes come from legal manufacturers. All tire irons, whether used legally or illegally come from legal manufacturers. So? How is this relevant to anything?
So you're assuming that all retailers comply with regulations? I mean, a buck is a buck and a gun sale is a lotta bucks, right? So F&F was a snafu. And maybe the ATF *did* entice them to sell....But, regardless, all guns (legal or illegal) originate from a legal manufacturer, correct?Â
 @Sheila Lechner Suspecting is more solid than anything, and I mean anything a criminal would do. That being said... those individuals who do not engage the FFL process just committed a criminal act > hence 'new' criminal. Your position is getting thinner by the moment. Your initial generalities were grossly inaccurate. The problem is... there will be some who believe your misrepresentation as fact... because - they saw it on the internet. Pathetic really. So back to your original post- US retailers are NOT freely selling to gangs and drug cartels. Sheesh!
 @SeattleJoe  @BocaBob When she's presented with real facts she simply leaves to attack another post with more lies. There is no point in arguing facts with these people so the best thing you can do is have a little fun with them until they run away....apparently to go talk with "homeland security" about the "mean man threatening me with.....my own publicly available info".....LOL. Liberals would be just funny if they didn't have the right to vote their insanity into law......
 @BocaBob I don't think facts are what she's interested in. She has on several occasions told people to prove things when they were a very simple google search away. That says a lot, as in she isn't looking into anything and learning herself, she's just spouting off the party line with no real knowledge about what shes "discussing".
 @dg54321  @Joel Jollymore  @Sheila Lechner  @d_2 I didn't even know about Ruby Ridge until a couple years ago. Then I saw some show about it and I realized what had happened. Man shooting a kid in the back is real cowardly. Same with shooting the wife in the face. Took a lot good planning to hem in a guy that was trying to mind his own business and shoot up his family. They could have simply arrested him when he went to town one day. It wasn't like he didn't leave regularly. But no, instead they had to turn it into a standoff, which is almost guaranteed to end badly. Pure and utter incompetence.
 @Joel Jollymore  @Sheila Lechner  @d_2 Sounds a lot like Waco/Ruby Ridge....where the guy was pressured into making an illegal receiver for a government official. Basically set up into breaking the law. Normally we'd call that entrapment, but the BATFE gets away with a lot of things that it shouldn't. "Fast and Furious" was just the latest travesty......
 @Sheila Lechner  @d_2 Actually those retailers did not want to make the sale on several occasions, because they believed it to be a straw purchase. The ATF and FBI field offices told them to sell it.
Dang the real truth not just some it. Sheila please read up on thisThis was your goverments work all the way.
 @Sheila Lechner  @d_2 Sheila, you've stepped in this one big time. The guns sold for F&F were done so at the direction of the ATF in many cases. There were literally dealers on the phone saying I think this guy shouldn't be allowed but the AFT said no, let them buy. Others used straw purchasers that were known and watched by the ATF. Those guns were meant to walk to MX and did.
@d_2 The retailers sold tagged guns to cartel members....how was that NOT their fault? And *suspecting* that most would follow the law(s) does not make it a fact. Re-selling guns/straw purchasing is an easy way to make a lot of money.
 @Sheila Lechner While you have such posts as described... I would suspect that most would follow the law(s). I would, and do so. I do recognize and agree that some purchasing loopholes should be addressed. The fact remains that 99.9% of retailers (as you described, and not personal transactions) follow the letter of the law. Criminals do not, and will not. Hence, the fact that if there new gun laws that impact the lawful purchase and ownership..... criminals will not adhere to them. Agreed? Fast & Furious was a Gov't SNAFU from the get-go. Not the retailers fault in any way shape or form.
@d_2 Um, haven't there been several posting by the pro-gun folks on this board that there's no record check (or paper trail) required for private sales? Sure, retailers are *supposed* to follow the requirements, but the snafu Fast and Furious showed us differently since those guns were sold by retailers to cartel members.
 @Sheila Lechner  @gastoys No, they aren't. The only people "selling" guns to gangs and drug cartels is our own government (the US not Canada) and criminals. Your gun stores would be running a NICS check, meaning the person purchasing the rifle at the store is a legal citizen...but I know that's way too much fact for you.
@SeattleJoe @Sheila Lechner @dg54321 @gastoys A "straw purchase" would be prevented if a gun (and a private sale) could be tracked down to its owner. Which is currently not the case. And just because WA might require checks, why not make it a national requirement? And whether or not they prevent crime is just your opinion, since none of this is tracked, is it?
 @Sheila Lechner  @dg54321  @gastoysÂ
And how exactly would a straw purchase be prevented? Also "Or that there isn't a record check or waiting period at gun shows."Â Um no. Some states and some gun shows do not require checks. Here in WA on the other hand, for all WAC related events and others you do in fact have to go through a check because in order to become a member get a NICS check run on you. Non members cannot purchase or sell. Additionally the recording is only useful after the crime is committed and the firearm is in the hands of the police. It does little to prevent crime yet people fixate on it as though its some giant help.
@dg54321 @gastoys Ah, I suspect you DO know about "straw purchasers". That anyone without a criminal record can buy as many guns as they want (as often as they want) and resell them to whoever they want, without a record. Or that there isn't a record check or waiting period at gun shows. Even in this comment board there have been several postings by pro-gun folks about "no records required" for private sales......Â
Give it to me, I'll show you my permit and give you a receipt so there's a record.
@MB What kind of "record"? A piece of paper and someone's house? Hardly a record and only emphasizes the obscene loopholes in our current gun laws.
 @Sheila Lechner  There is a transfer form you fill out and register with the state and police. You don't have to do it as a private sale. Some people want to register it, some people don't. I'm offering to do it. No need to hide, be sneaky or avoid big brother right?
 @Sheila Lechner It's only a loophole if you use it as such.
@MB a wonderful loophole.
@MB Nah, I'll melt it down into scrap metal instead. The point is to decrease the number of guns in circulation.
 @Superman_1967 If you change your mind let me know.
In Washington State paperwork is not required for a private sale or transfer of a firearm. In reality you don't even have to write out a receipt but it would be a good idea to do so just to keep for your own records.No paperwork goes to the state, local PD or ATF,.Paperwork (aka: Registration) is required for the transfer of a new firearm but not for a used one. Look it up RCW 9.41 Washington State law that governs firearms.
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You can file form FIR-652-004 (R/10/11)WA Pistol/ Revolver Private Disposition/ Transfer
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This form may be voluntarily submitted by the seller or transfer or to report the sale, transfer of ownership, loss, or other disposition of a pistol or revolver. RCW 9.41
@al_wa Thanks for posting one of many shameful loopholes in our gun laws.
 @Sheila Lechner  @al_wa Loopholes? This is idiotic... Let's say private transfer paperwork was required by law. Are all the lawbreakers going to start filing paper work or not do a private transfer without paperwork because it's illegal?
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Virtually ever anti gun argument I've heard does nothing to limit guns in the hands of criminals, it only limits what law abiding gun owner, who are not the problem, can do.
@Gadsden @al_wa the "law abiding gun owners" are the ones involved in the mass shootings.....the OR mall, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, etc.
 @Gadsden  @Sheila Lechner  @al_wa This is the problem with gun control laws. They only apply to those people who obey the laws. Criminals by their very nature do not follow the laws. Therefore more laws will not help.
 @Sheila Lechner  @al_wa Sounds like a good way to keep the government from knowing exactly what guns are where...which goes along with the exact purpose of the 2nd. If they don't know what guns are where it's impossible to confiscate them. And I don't think you or anybody else who says there's a "loophole" knows what that word really means.
 @Sheila Lechner  @SeattleJoe "You missed firerm suicides:"
Not at all. I don't count firearm suicides because they are bs. Suicides are not applicable to the discussion. They are only counted by anti-gunners who, in absence of arguments are grasping for every possible thing they can so they cast the widest net possible.Â
But you're right, I shouldn't have said "gun related homicides" when I really meant "gun related deaths".
@SeattleJoe You missed firerm suicides:
Number of deaths:Â 18,735
Deaths per 100,000 population:Â 6.1
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Homicides + suicides (from 2009 CDC data) = 30,228Â
newspuppy's going to be mad at you, I bet.
 @Sheila Lechner "gun related homicides is a CDC statistic. and population numbers are from the census. "
OK. From: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm
We get (for 2008, 2011, the latest but incomplete is not much different):
Mortality All homicides Number of deaths: 16,799
Deaths per 100,000 population: 5.5
Cause of death rank: 15
Firearm homicides Number of deaths: 11,493Â Â (2011 is 11,101 preliminary)
Deaths per 100,000 population: 3.7
@newspuppy gun related homicides is a CDC statistic. and population numbers are from the census. Â
@Sheila Lechner  U spout statistics, no doubt straight out of the Brady Coalition and Handgun Control INC, as fact.  Double check those "facts" with the NRA, sister.
 @Sheila Lechner  @dg54321  @al_wa "vs nearly 30,000 in a country of 313 mil"
Ah trying to sneak this lie past the public again are we?
 @Sheila Lechner  @dg54321  @al_wa Dear Sheila The government is out to get us. And then the so called king will move North so keep your long arms at ready.
@dg54321 @al_wa I don't have to worry about my kid being shot at his elementary school either. Or that we have maybe 100 gun-related homicides in a country of 33 million vs nearly 30,000 in a country of 313 mil. Who pays for the medical care of the hundreds of thousands injured in gun violence in the US--the taxpayer. There's a public health, social and economic cost in maintaining an extremist view of the 2nd Amendment. I only hope the gun manufacturers, retailers and owners are going to be held financially responsible (like Big Tobacco).Â
 @Sheila Lechner  @dg54321  @al_wa Yeah, statists like you would love the standing army of the police instead of lawfully armed citizens. Besides, being a Canadian resident, you don't have to worry about a 2nd Amendment up there......enjoy being a subject of the government.
@dg54321 @al_wa If you're so paranoid that you think our gov't is out to get you.....really, why do you post on this board? Honestly, all you're accomplishing is perpetuating the stereotype that gun owners are a bunch of nut jobs.   I'll take our established law enforcement over 2nd amenders any day.