People Voluntarily Giving Up Their Guns

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/people-voluntarily-giving-their-guns

In the aftermath of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, some Americans are turning in their guns as part of local government buy-backed programs.

Residents in New York City , New York, Camden, New Jersey , Baltimore, Maryland , and San Francisco , California, sold hundreds of weapons back to the government no-questions asked, with some attributing their decisions to the Connecticut tragedy.

“After the incident yesterday, it was time to get it out of the house ,” Sonia White, a 65-year-old Baltimore County grandmother said. A man in San Francisco explained, “ I’ve got kids, man .” “Kids are curious. Kids don’t know any better. I had it locked in a toolbox, so I don’t know. … I just know it had to go.”

Following this month’s killings by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who shot his girlfriend dead and then turned the gun on himself, at least seven NFL players have gotten rid of their personal firearms. One player reportedly turned in multiple weapons to his franchise’s security detail, “telling his team’s personnel that he didn’t trust himself with the guns.”

[DanM]

1. I support the *idea* of gun buy-backs, but . . .

. . . the reality is that 99% are junk or old (not the modern stuff) and nobody perpetrating the actual violent crimes are turning theirs in. It is frustrating!

[CanSocDem]

2. I gave up my guns...

...after I had shot a little bird at the end of a 'boyish' hunting trip(killing spree). I was confronted with the absurdity of my aggression against this particular victim. I was overcome with shame and regret and that day, almost 50 years ago, I gave up my guns forever.

.

[xchrom]

3. ...

[yodermon]

4. CanSocDem. thank you. n/t