DETROIT (WJBK) and commentary by Glen Wunderlich – Many Detroiters like the idea of turning in their guns for cash at the Second Ebenezer church, while others like me know it’s a feel-good publicity stunt that has no positive effect on crime.
First, the weapons are carefully checked making sure they’re not loaded. Being offered is $25 for unusable guns up to $100 for a Mac 10 semiautomatic weapon. Reporters like this one love the word weapon; it sounds much more menacing or ominous than firearm, which is the correct term. Heck, weapon can describe a prize fighters fists or a hammer swung by a scorned woman.
Some people came to make sure they could be eligible for guns for cash. And, why not? Times are tough in Detroit and junk for cash is a good deal for them. How many gangbangers turned in their guns and gave up crime? Why isn’t there any reporting on this? Simple: It doesn’t happen!
“I just happened to (have) heard. I said I had two of them just (lying) around the house. I said I’m going to come see if they (will) give me some money for them,” said Paul Hicks. Another genius.
“Those guns will not be used to perpetrate armed robberies, and those guns will not be picked up by a young person by accident and we have another tragedy with a child killing themselves accidentally,” said Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee. Well, chief, that may be true, but they probably won’t be saving any lives, either. Anyway, just what what will happen to these guns? Are they going to be destroyed at taxpayers’ expense? More genius. Why don’t you sell them to a legitimate firearms dealer and use the money to pay the legal bill to fight ex-mayor, Kilpatrick in court? Someone has to pay the legal bill and everyone knows the city’s broke.
Continental Management is handing out the cash. A few months ago they ran out of money, so they gave out vouchers to be used later. However, despite the response, there are some skeptics out there. yeah, I’m one of them.
“It’s not going to change anything, and no criminals are turning in their firearms. Bad guys are still armed, and it’s going to make everyone else less safe because they’re not going to have any,” said Rick Ector of Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit.
“We understand the value of this program, and we’re glad to help provide some of the resources that make this a winning opportunity. Hopefully, some people will come away with a little bit of cash for the holiday,” said Gary Offenbacher with Continental Management. I also understand the value, or lack thereof, of this meaningless program. Send me a list of the guns you took in and I’ll see if they are worth more than you paid for them. Maybe we can make a deal on the decent guns and then you’ll have more money for your next valuable scheme.
“We need guns off the street. Everybody’s carrying guns now. It’s too easy to get a CCW. If we can get guns off the street, guns kill people,” said Shawn Davis. yeah, yeah, yeah. And, spoons made Rosie O’Donnell fat.
Some of the weapons are in good shape, while others are in bad shape. People say some have just been lying around the house not serving any purpose, why not turn them in and get some money for them. That’s right. Kind of like insurance: it serves no purpose, either – until you need it.
