If a gun buy back program saves even one life - including an accidental shooting - it is totally worth it.

Concern trolls will be concerned, will troll.

I'm with #5. Totally worth it. Gotta start someplace.

Yep, totally pointless, there's no reason it could possibly work or affect change because it's just a publicity stunt. There's no way removing more guns from private hands could stop criminal misuse of guns. Unless you believe in math.

This, combined with purchase restrictions like background checks, and waiting periods, is exactly what needs to happen. If you have a gun, you're more likely to kill someone with it or be killed by it. If you are a weapons dealer and you have to wait a month between purchases, you're less likely to stockpile. Given the sheer overwhelming number of privately owned firearms, if you take 1/25th of them out of private hands, that could still amount of thousands of lives saved, either from violent crime, accidental harm, or suicide.

I was initially skeptical about the effectiveness and the cost, but I guess the idea is that normal, non-thug people would turn over the old hunting rifle that dear Uncle Joe, rest in peace, used to go shooting with, in exchange for some quick money, so that sneaky little Grandson Tyler won't get his hands on it. It's probably not intended for the crack-slinging thugs. I don't know if this would have prevented the Sandy Hook massacre, but it might prevent some accidental gun deaths of people who had no business handling a gun.

If it makes people feel better and doesn't cost any public money, then have at it I guess.

I don't agree with it 100%, but this article on guns by author Sam Harris is something I've been suggesting to others:

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-r…

Ah, the insane minds of the unregistered commenter. I just can't quit you.

I read that when they did this somewhere in Florida, most of the guns handed in were from little old ladies who'd been widowed and were keen to get their late husband's damn gun out of the house at last. It all helps.

IT'S A START.

@12 : I believe you are correct. Even if that also happens in our area it should help save lives, since the studies show that owners of guns are in much higher danger of being killed, by their own guns, than non-owners.

Hunh, I agree with @2, @3, & @9. Doesn't address gun-related crimes like the Aurora or Newtown shootings, which are why people thought of doing this, and maybe it'll prevebt some accidents or gun thefts.

Better raise a lot of money. I'll be hunting around for some useless, piece of crap, firearms to turn into quick cash (or gift cards).

@18 Of the 1,172 guns turned in during Seattle's 1992 gun buy-back, 95% were handguns, and 87% were operational. Apparently not all of them were crappy or useless, that is, until they were melted down and turned into a sculpture.

It's something that will go over well with Dow's and Mayor McCheese's supporters, so it does serve a purpose.

@18

It isn't a bad thing if gun lovers go and track down widows and girlfriends and whoever else ends up with the disordered collections of dead and jailed gun collectors. The problem is that these guns are lying around in the homes of people who know nothing about them. They end up getting taken by criminals or in the hands of curious kids.

So if someone who has a clue takes it off their hands, that's an improvement. At least there's a bit better chance they'll keep it secure.

And you hardly need to wait for a gun buyback to go do that. Offer cash for old guns. Make a million dollars. Knock yourself out.

The other thing is that if we had requirements for safe storage, and minimal qualifications to own a gun in the first place, we'd have far fewer lying around like this to begin with. Imagine all the beautiful old classic antique guns that could be saved if they were kept out of the hands of morons.

But whatever. Buy. Buy away. Get out there and buy them. Nobody is stopping you.

It addresses the ever-pressing need of Seattle's "progressives" to demonstrate their Goodness to themselves and especially to everyone else. Won't do a damn thing otherwise, but when has that ever mattered?