“Guns For Roses” And Other S.C. Nonsense
We really, really, really don’t know how we missed this.
It’s one of those things that just screams “South Carolina,” an awful idea that just might work because people here really aren’t all that bright.
Which, in a weird way, might make it a great idea.
Anyway, without any further ado, the Associated Press enlightens us:
Police in South Carolina are giving out roses on Valentine’s Day. All you have to do is turn in a gun.
Authorities are running the “Guns for Roses” program Saturday at two locations in the central part of the state.
Anyone who turns in a gun gets a free rose and an electronics store gift card. A handgun gets a $100 gift card, while a rifle or shotgun nets a $50 gift card.
Interestingly, the significance of this story has nothing to do with government, or gun ownership, or even the suppression of the latter by the former.
Way beyond those tired tropes, this “incentive program†illuminates by implication the fact that most people are downright dumb with their money.
Those South Carolinians who are willing to trade guns for money should get acquainted with a concept commonly known as Craigslist … or a publication called The Carolina Trader. Or one of the eleventy kabillion “gun and knife” shows that take place in this state every weekend.
A sale using any of these methods would net much more than the $50 that Columbia cops pay, if for no other reason than these transactions conveniently dispense with that pesky “waiting period†business, elevating its price to a premium.
On top of that, these sales would net actual money rather than a plastic excuse for it . . . because I hear it’s money people need, not an electronics store gift card.
(Of course, this is might be a peripheral part of the stimulus: Instead of directly infusing companies with cash, we’re bringing back the middle man – commonly called the consumer – and arming him with taxpayer-fueled gift cards with which to bailout the big guys).
Look, it’s no wonder people are financially floundering.
Times are tough, and they’ll only toughen unless folks familiarize themselves with basic economics … which, in this case, would entail the taking of bids, the highest of which would yield the exchange of cash for your guns.
Cash.
Not electronics, or a gift card for such.
And not for nothing, but whatever gadget you get with that electronics gift card is only going to add to the clutter you’ll have to deal with when the foreclosure commences, right?
What can we say … we’re looking out for y’all …
UPDATE: We hear through the grapevine that it’s illegal to sell guns through Craigslist. No matter. As far as we’re concerned, legality flew the coop the minute county cops became florists. Still, though, our lawyers are up in arms (ha!) so this is our obligatory “don’t try this at home†disclaimer.
Comments
By baked on February 15th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
does mayor bob or leon have a p-r hotshot on retainer like the spartanburg superintendent? this smells of an ad agency.
By Mike on February 15th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Larger cities around the US have run similar gun buyback programs for years- the flower angle with ours here was just an cutesy twist to an old, tired gun gimmick. The benefit for most gun buybacks is the no-hassle guarantee- mopes can turn in stolen weapons, illegal weapons (e.g., non-registered sawed off shotguns), or guns with obliterated serial numbers without penalty or prosecution. I don’t know if that was the case with the program in Cola…
Regardless, what you generally collect are bags full of tired old guns (a large percentage of which are inoperative) that have been lying around in closets for years, but since they could have been used in a crime eventually there is some benefit. For the most part, though, real-deal, gangbangin’ mopes do not swing by to drop off their high quality stuff for fifty or a hundred bucks…
By Chris on February 16th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
As Mike mentioned, most of what gets turned in is not worth nearly $50 – mostly old crap. As far as selling guns on Craigslist – this is against the CL rules, but not illegal. BATFE regulations require that a sale out of state be shipped to an Federal Firearms License holder, where the buyer picks up the firearm after passing the checks. Within the state (and this is true for any state, not just SC) you are permitted to sell pre-owned firearms to anyone without restrictions. Granted, if you know the buyer cannot legally own a firearm you may have some explaining to do – but you are not required to ask.
By Bob on February 17th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
South Carolina does not have a waiting period. Private firearms sales generally occur at a lower price point because the seller is not trying to cover overhead.
By Chuck on June 11th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Craigslist states at the beginning of their list of prohibited items, that you are bound by the laws of California, where CL is originated. See the penal code for California (PC section 12072(d). Weather you live in Cali or not, if you are not a licensed dealer, you must sell or transfer any firearm through a licensed dealer. period. I suggest obeying the law.
(PC section 12072(d))