Orlando, Florida, initiated a "Kicks for Guns" program designed to get guns off the streets. Basically you turn in a gun, you get a pair of sneakers (or $50 gift certificates) - no questions asked. It's an annual program run in Orange County by the Sheriff's Dept and two local radio stations in hopes that they can cut into the city's violent crime problem.
Last year, the program recovered 116 guns (including 3 stolen ones... and a Tec 9 machine gun).
This year, over 310 guns were collected. Some were of great value, some were used only for hunting, some were historical relics, some were rusty, some were used in crimes. And one was a surface-to-air missile launcher.
The police will test-fire every gun (to match bullet rifling to unsolved crimes) and then destroyed.
While other states are getting guns off the streets, some brilliant minds in the Wisconsin legislature are trying to give them to schoolteachers (check out Rep. Lasee's blog) or allow people to carry concealed weapons. If it were up to me, I'd rather have the State pay $50 now instead of $50,000 later to prosecute a violent crime...
Last year, the program recovered 116 guns (including 3 stolen ones... and a Tec 9 machine gun).
This year, over 310 guns were collected. Some were of great value, some were used only for hunting, some were historical relics, some were rusty, some were used in crimes. And one was a surface-to-air missile launcher.
The police will test-fire every gun (to match bullet rifling to unsolved crimes) and then destroyed.
While other states are getting guns off the streets, some brilliant minds in the Wisconsin legislature are trying to give them to schoolteachers (check out Rep. Lasee's blog) or allow people to carry concealed weapons. If it were up to me, I'd rather have the State pay $50 now instead of $50,000 later to prosecute a violent crime...
Labels: guns
