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gunbuyback2.jpg
Seattle Police display some of the guns turned in at last Saturday's gun buyback. (SPD image)

Still no Mayor McGinn; Challenger Burgess questions gun buybacks

BY Josh Kerns  on February 1, 2013 @ 5:57 pm (Updated: 6:08 pm - 2/1/13 )

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn continues refusing to appear on the Ron and Don Show to discuss the city's controversial gun buyback program, and rebut criticisms they're ineffective and little more than a photo op. But Seattle City Councilman and mayoral candidate Tim Burgess questioned their effectiveness Friday in an interview with Ron and Don.

Burgess avoided taking any direct shots at McGinn and said while he has no problem with with gun buybacks as long as they don't cost any taxpayer money, he's worried they become a distraction from real issues.

"We had a buyback program back in the 90's," Burgess said. "The academic research that was done on that showed that it did not result in the reduction of gun violence in fact our homicide rate by guns actually went up in the six months following the buyback program."

Don questioned the leadership of both McGinn and police chief John Diaz, wondering why Diaz has been absent from a number of major events including last year's Cafe Racer massacre, the gun buyback and last Sunday's shooting at a Central District nightclub, while Assistant Chief Nick Metz or others spoke on behalf of the department instead.

Burgess was diplomatic in his response, but made it clear he doesn't plan to keep the chief around if he's elected, reiterating a previous statement that the city would get a new chief under his watch.

"I think Chief Diaz is eligible for retirement, I would not fire him," Burgess said. "I think there is a need however for new leadership in the police department."

Burgess refused to comment on criticisms the buybacks are little more than "political theater" as Ron characterized it.

Instead, he pushed the measures he thinks would do the most good, such as instituting a data collection system of gun injuries and deaths to help develop prevention programs, better training, and new safety initiatives.

Burgess also emphasized that while there's plenty of talk about incidents like Cafe Racer and the Sandy Hook shootings, they're the exception rather than the norm. He said the far bigger problem is accidental shootings, suicides and attempted suicides, and the focus should be on keeping guns out of the hands of the people who shouldn't have them.

"We have allowed the gun debate to take our eyes off what we should be focused on," Burgess said. "The issue now is how do we make sure that people possess weapons safely and that people who should not possess weapons are not given access to them."

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (18)


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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Twitter @ mayormcginn
    February 1, 2013 6:55 pm
    This guy has got to go , vote him out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hawks$life wrote...
    Those guns were not turned in at the buyback
    February 1, 2013 7:52 pm
    They were for sale online just the day before! those are political prop guns to sway the people to view guns as bad and make this little charade appear successful.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    "Challenger?"
    February 1, 2013 8:38 pm
    Really? I just assumed there was a Pez dispenser that kept popping up more ridiculous candidates each election.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Please let me know
    February 2, 2013 6:11 am
    when the next buyback is. I'll be there with cash in hand to out bid you for the choice guns that the public is willing to turn in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    We were there
    February 2, 2013 11:20 am
    A bunch of us did that at the last one. I got to turn in a rusted shut shotgun that would never be shot again anyway and got $100 gift card for that and I got to buy a brand new 1911 from a lady in line to turn it in, for $300. Lots of other people got great deals too. It was a great day. I can't wait for the next one
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Attn. Mayor McGinn wake up and grow up.
    February 2, 2013 3:27 pm
    Your immature political position has been called out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    McGinn is a weak loser
    February 2, 2013 4:37 pm
    Anyone who is elected into office has a "DUTY" to be available and speak to the media about their positions. It is a sign of a pure loser who refuses to speak to peopole who don't agree or will put them on the hot seat over their positions. If you can't do that don't run for office. McGinn you area pure loser and hopefully your time destroying the City of Seattle is numbered.

    That being said Burgess is not much better and neither are any of the other choices running. But that is what Seattle appears to like, a bunch of losers in charge and not being held accountable for their actions.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    So, now the media....
    February 2, 2013 7:06 pm
    As much as I respect KIRO and their reporters, they need to stay away from the Mayor and his decision to not fall for the Ron and Don cross questioning. The Mayor needs to keep his cards close to his chest, as he has done in the past and ignore the disrespect that he has NOT earned from the media. He has done a good job as mayor and I hope he can go another term. Who in their right mind would want to be a Mayor in this city?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cw1997 wrote...
    Seriously
    February 3, 2013 6:36 am
    This man is an idiot....of course the idiots elected him so what would you expect.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Mcnuggets doesnt want to be on the show, Okay!
    February 3, 2013 11:16 am
    And all you Parrots are good with this. Had this been a Conservative, all you Parrots would have been squawking and flapping all about your cages.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Mayor McGinn
    February 3, 2013 8:23 pm
    is waiting to get on "America's Got Talent or even better yet Piers Morgan's tonight show.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    bill and it's me
    February 3, 2013 8:35 pm
    Are sleeping together again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Wow
    February 3, 2013 10:36 pm
    Thanks Kiro for removing my comment regarding longwayhome. It was not offensive in any nature but called them out for their stance. Why to supress those of us you do not agree with. I see where I stand with you and your company.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }