Re: gun buybacks
I've gone to about 20 buybacks from Va, Pa, Nj and Ny.
Honestly I can say without a doubt that there were no gang members bringing in their guns; but I do believe some skeptical parents or guardians forefitted their guns for fear of kids going bad, or someone breaking into their house and stealing the gun. Also alot of people just don't know what to do with them, or how to get rid of them.
I told the story of the Kentucky rifle because of what it was and the fact that it hits close to home to me cuz I collect them. I can't even begin to tell you how many good guns I've seen tagged and left in a laundry type hopper ready to go to storage and ultimatley the foundry.
One characteristic I've seen in the last couple years, is bring backs from WWI and WWII. Alot of german guns millitary and civilian, One of the best guild guns I've ever seen was at a buyback in Bloomfield NJ. It was a Mannlicher Schoenauer action with absolutley the best engraving and metal work. Octagon to round barrel with a full rib "filed" into the barrel, not attached. You just don't see guns like that here made in the states at any time in history. This gun was definetley made for someone of nobility. Remember: before WWI there were castles spread throughout europe. Those castles were owned by the nobility, and these Dukes, Graf's, whatever were expected to have arms for their own regiments in service to the king or whomever ran their country. After the war these estates were pilfered by the soldiers of the allied armies. Seems the children or grandchilderen of these vets don't have the interest or just don't want to go through the hassle of selling these guns.
I don't see the buybacks doing what they were originally intended to do. Yes they are getting guns off of the streets; but only a very very small % of what guns they targeted in the first place.
