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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)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cash wrote...
    Also
    February 3, 2013 10:40 pm
    If you are to chicken to have commenters who you are afraid of speaking out against you're pressure view of liberal Seattle don't allow any comments. When you get one you don't agree with don't just delete it because you can; that is unacceptable and you know it.
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  • AKAF wrote...
    Again, McGinn is a politician punk that doesn't like to lose
    February 3, 2013 11:21 pm
    Don has a compelling argument and Seattle Mayor doesn't. Why would he debate Don on this issue. McGinn would lose the argument. Count this lack of debate as a victory to Don and his logical argument over the Mayor's. Will Seattle Times or better yet, the sidelined Seattle PI or Stranger pick up on the debate? Count yourself lucky...for once KIRO is leading. Stranger debating a mayor with a "D" after his name...not in their best interest. Our media in this town sucks....it's biased and don't speak the truth. Thankfully this time we have Don.
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  • po_guy wrote...
    For one thing...
    February 4, 2013 6:03 am
    Don is not a debater, he is a radio commentator, an actor...he also is a smart aleck. I wouldn't sit with him either, noi matter his venue. For as long as he wishes, after the debate, he has the ability to turn it into whatever he wants to by chewing it online with his cronies.
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  • HLC wrote...
    I think McGinn will come on R&Ds show.
    February 4, 2013 11:50 am
    Just about the time Obozo goes on Fox News. Neither one of them wants to answer a tough question. Only soft balls please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    Still no updates to your blog?
    February 4, 2013 11:39 pm
    Rachel Bell needs equal footing for this show. Her reporting is first among your posts on this blog and she is prominent among your 'actual' reporting on the show. Ron and Don just often spout incorrect facts, not listening to the Dori, Luke or Dave. Ron and Don's belief in show research is doing nothing, including not listening to previous KIRO shows and spouting incorrect data...more so for Ron. I don't like Rachel's reports, little to liberal for me, but she deserves equal credit...she is the show and gives new reports. She's the hardest worker of the four hours...errr three..., errr two hour time line (I don't credit the repeat that is frequent.)
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