TexasCHLforum.com

dave_in_austin wrote:From what I saw on the TV, the APD is telling people to put their guns in bags and bring them to the buy back. They are requested not to take the guns out of the bag until asked to do so. It seems to me like the APD is asking people to carry concealed weapons (in a bag). It is a reasonable assumption that many of those who will carry their guns there in bags will not have a CHL. Isn't the APD encouraging people to commit a crime this way?

I don't know, is it illegal to carry guns into a gun show? Bagged, cased or out in the open? As long as they are carrying in their car or on the church private property, and of legal age, it should be OK. Rifles are always legal but if you take a handgun off of the property on public right of way either concealed without a license, or open, you are probably breaking the law.

Keep in mind, at least as far as my opinion goes, that the APD is not necessarily the joke here. They are doing what they are told, and considering the large number of weapons in one spot, it's a good idea that they will be around.

The whole psychology aspect of the idea of people turning in guns for a relatively small amount of cash is complex.

I can only come up with a few scenarios:
1) Criminals are turning in "hot" guns to have them disposed of.
The thing about that is, the last time they did this, they found NO crime guns. And if they did, they'd have every right to investigate. I'm not sure if they keep ANY evidence at all of the persons turning in guns, they just say "No questions asked." That doesn't mean they aren't recording something, somehow for future investigations.
2) People, for whatever reason, own working guns they don't want. Either they were given to them, found them, inherited them, bought them and decided they didn't want them...whatever. They may be afraid of them.
Fine, they don't want them, and maybe they are afraid to sell them, don't know what they are worth. They probably don't secure them very well, either. These guns would be potential stolen property. They could also be discovered by a small child or a teen. We don't want that - so good, take them off of their hands and we won't have to worry about if they are on the streets or in wrong hands. So, small as that possibility is, it could deter crime.
3) People like you and I are turning in junk guns, worthless, dangerous or non-functional. We get money and make space for more good guns, they feel good.
4) People are stupid.

srothstein wrote:

Chemist45 wrote:Meanwhile the city of Austin is laying off teachers but, apparently, they have tens of thousands of dollars to waste on stupid "feel good" schemes like this one.

Just a quick technical correction, but these are two completely separate taxing entities. The Austin ISD does not even cover all of the city. It does have its own taxing authority and budget, completely separate from the City of Austin.

Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been advertised as private funds supporting this buy back, no taxpayer money. Greater Austin Crime Commission is the name of the group. They are supposed to operate strictly off of donations, but the more money they spend on this farce, the less they have for real gun control projects. The only taxpayer funds are those that employ the police that are there supervising.

I plan on getting there to trade in an old beat up Stevens 12ga shotgun that I got as part of another deal, unless someone else wants to take it off my hands.