I'm neutral on the whole gun-exchange program thing, as long as the exchanges aren't *prompting* theft by jerks who go stealing guns in order to get stuff - hence, I tend to prefer item exchanges to cash payment programs.
And, if people have guns laying around they want to get rid of, are afraid of, and aren't willing to take 'em down to a dealer or pawn shop - hey, it's better than them sitting in the trash.
Two people, both readers, sent me links to this story about a recent exchange event in Orlando - where people gave up some expensive weapons (but hey, they may have stolen them at some point, too) and of course, got some *interesting* stuff, too.
My high school bud Kevin sent me the link lamenting the collectables that were turned in and will be destroyed, such as the 1903 Colt or the M1-A rifle.
Another reader, himself a blogger, Parrothead Jeff, sent the link and a link to his blogpost on the subject, Reeboks for MANPADS.
Jeff provides an unintended opportunity for me... stories like this, and his blogpost about it, are why I exist.
I’m not of the mind that “taking guns off the street” is going to make the streets all that much safer. I personally believe that if people want one, they’re going to get it - legally or illegally. Missile launchers are another thing entirely. This is good to have off the streets especially since neither the guy who brought it in nor the people who took it off his hands seem to have a clue about it.
Now this is where I come in... context!
Looking at the picture that accompanied the article - that's a TOW missile container, I believe - and the way that Sergeant is holding it indicates to me the container is empty - the government sells things like that surplus. To make it useful again, you need a launcher, a sight, and... a missile.
I'm guessing from the article and the picture that the local LEOs knew it was empty - though it would appear no one knows what it really was.
The point isn't to score a knowledge gloat - the point is that reading the article, and Jeff's post on the article - you leave with a completely different picture of the item than I did.
Nothing wrong with Jeff's post, based on the info the newspaper provided. But look at the take-away Jeff had from the article.
It's stuff like this, how the mis-information propagates, that makes my life as a collector more difficult - with good intentions all around - and is part of what drove me into blogging.
I actually get questions like that all the time - people send me whatziss' in the mail. And two or three times, I've also gotten what were pretty transparent trolling attempts by LEOs to see if I would either bite on acquiring something illegal, or would give advice on *how* to acquire or dispose of things illegally.
The fact that I'm still here will tell you how I answer - and how I answer even when it isn't an obvious attempt to trap me.
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