One Man is Crowdfunding an End to Gun Violence

[SecularMotion]

When Ian Johnstone was just 10 years old, his father was shot during a random robbery attempt in San Francisco. The perpetrators were a group of teenagers who had been using drugs; the 16-year-old shooter fired once into the elder Johnstone's back, instantly paralyzing him. A week later, his dad died in the hospital from complications

"You can't help but feel frustrated and jaded and powerless about the issue," says Johnstone.

From this conversation, Gun By Gun was born. In less than two years, the organization has crowdsourced more than $80,000, using the money to collect more than 750 guns in four cities over the course of five campaigns.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nationswell/one-man-is-crowdfunding-a_b_7819012.html

[Travis_0004]

1. Ive always said I'm for gun guybacks

I wish they would have one for me.

Its a great way to get rid of a rusted out gun that has no value and doesn't work, then I can get some ammo, or a new gun with that money.

Unfortunately the golden age of gun buy backs is past us. I used to be able to get a M1895 revolver for about 70 bucks. If they had a gun buyback, close to me, I would turn it in for 200, then next time I was at the gun store pick up a new one. The gun is about 200 bucks now, so there is no profit to be made.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. I wonder if any of the guns he's buying could be traced back to crimes and if so would that

constitute Destruction/Tampering with Evidence.

[PoliticAverse]

3. They apparently turn the guns over to the police who I assume do check them

as the police usually do when they run buyback programs.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Why assume?

If the people giving up the guns know they will be surrendered to the police I doubt any self-aware criminal would turn over evidence. So the program isn't really getting illegal guns off the street. That means only those who are not criminals are turning in guns; again, with no effect on guns being used in crimes.

But if the police are not examining the guns then evidence is being destroyed and criminals will not be held to account.

What then is the advantage?

[DonP]

6. Actually no, the guns are not checked

At least in Chicago there is no checking of serial numbers or ballistics.

The guns go straight to a local steel mill for melting down.

That's why it has been pointed out that it's an easy way to dispose of a crime gun, have someone turn it in for you and cash the check.

[PoliticAverse]

7. Wow, so at least in Chicago the police will pay you to destroy evidence. n/t

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2015, 12:17 PM - Edit history (1)

[DonP]

9. They take the "No questions asked" thing seriously

Even if they checked them, there's no way to tie any gun back to a specific owner.

They hand over the gun and get a debit card, no forms, no questions no names involved.

The only scary part is some of the same guns show up on the table of turn ins several times for the photo ops.

And when a rare gun, like a 1st generation Colt .45 gets turned in, it tends to vanish on the way to the scrap yard and wind up in some cops sock drawer or sold to an FFL.

[Duckhunter935]

5. once again drugs were involved

We need to stop the war on drugs. I think that would stop more of this. I have no problems with gun buybacks, but I have questions on how many actually may have been used in some criminal manor. So what are your thoughts, you must be getting close to a thousand of the Google drive by posts by now. As discuss is part of the group SOP, I would like to have a discussion with you on this.

[sarisataka]

8. Spicy SPAM® Rice Bites

Spicy SPAM® Rice Bites

Total Time: About an hour Makes: 12 servings
Bite into these bites with caution, because these bites have bite! The spicy in this rice-y SPAM® dish comes from a drizzling of sriracha mayo sauce. Take the edge off the bite with some flavorful teriyaki sauce and bacon bits. It may be the best bite you’ve ever bitten into.

Ingredients

6 1/4-inch slices SPAM® Classic
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
3/4 cup cooked white rice
1 tablespoon Hormel® Real Bacon Bits
1 tablespoon furikake
6 drizzles sriracha mayo sauce
2 teaspoons chopped green onions
Directions Launch Kitchen View

1In skillet, cook SPAM® Classic and teriyaki sauce until slightly crisp. Cool slightly. Cut in 1 1/2-inch squares. Place on plate.
2Using tablespoon, scoop cooked rice onto each square of SPAM® Classic and round out the shape.
3On top, evenly sprinkle bacon bits and furikake. Drizzle sriracha mayo on top and garnish with green onion. Makes 12.

My opinion is that the effort is futile and naive but everyone involved is an adult so I wish him good luck.

[Eleanors38]

10. This is a more complicated take-off of a fast & nasty FLA-Cuban dish.

Basically, steam up a pot of Spanish yellow rice (it usually is packaged with a seasoning package), then break apart a can of corned beef and stir it into the rice. Serve with ketchup.

I'm experimenting with a dove dirty rice dish which involves pre-cooking white rice, then taking the tiny giblets of dove (often thrown away) and sauteeing them in butter, adding diced bell pepper, a little celery & onion along the way, and whatever seasoning (esp. Cajun) you want. After gizards are soft (be sure to clean beforehand!), mix the pan contents with the rice and reheat. Don't flip and stir too much or it will get gummy. Use a Louisiana hot sauce to dress.