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A member of the Seattle Police Department holds what was described as a "military rocket launcher" that was confiscated during the city's gun buyback program Saturday. (Photo: KIRO Radio/Brandi Kruse)

Hundreds show up for Seattle gun buyback

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 26, 2013 @ 2:40 pm (Updated: 4:20 pm - 1/26/13 )

Seattle police started turning people away hours before their gun buyback program was supposed to end Saturday.

Hundreds of people lined up in their cars and on foot to trade firearms with "no questions asked" for $100 and $200 dollar gift cards from Target and Amazon. Shortly after noon, the city had gone through a large portion of the $80,000 in gift cards they had on hand, according to Seattle police Det. Carrie McNally.

With the exception of those that come up stolen, the firearms collected Saturday will be melted down.

Det. McNally estimated between 400 and 500 firearms had been collected, including several assault-style rifles and three Street Sweeper shotguns, including one that was new in the box.

"I think just looking at the name, Street Sweeper, says it all," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "That's not used for hunting deer, so just the fact that these are off the street makes a difference."

But many turned in firearms that were old or no longer worked.

George Aiton brought a Jennings .22 pistol.

"On the open market I get $20 for it. Here I get $100 for it," he said.

Another man, who preferred not to use his name, brought two .22 caliber rifles. One was no longer operational.

"I just want to get them out of my garage so my kids quit playing with them," he said.

Some who came to turn their guns in to police Saturday instead handed them over to private citizens who were waiting nearby.

John Jones held a sign that said "I pay cash."

"I'm not offering gift cards, I'm offering cash," he said. "I'm acquiring weapons for my personal collection."

Jones said what he was doing was not illegal because he has a concealed weapons permit and has undergone appropriate background checks.

"It is legal to do," said Seattle Police Chief John Diaz. "It's probably one of the areas that I think needs to be looked at; not that you shouldn't be able to buy and sell a gun."

The most unusual weapon that came in Saturday was a rocket launcher once used by the military. Police confiscated the weapon from Mason Vranish, who bought it for $100 from a man waiting in line.

"I just wanted it as a wall piece, kind of a decoration item," he said.

Police gave Vranish a $200 gift card for the weapon but said they would return it to him if the military doesn't want it back.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (50)


  • Add A Comment

  • hawks$life wrote...
    gun show loop hole? nope.
    January 26, 2013 2:47 pm
    Thanks to Seattle for creating what shall forever be known as the "Seattle Gun Buy-Back Loophole". I don't imagine there were many background checks on the sidewalk, as people were selling their guns to collectors and enthusiasts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    With the exception of those that come up stolen, the firearms collected Saturday will be melted down.
    January 26, 2013 2:59 pm
    Isn't illegal to purchase stolen property? Were laws violated in this operation? There's a follow up story if you care to seek it.

    Is it really a good idea for cops to be buying stolen guns? Doesn't that just encourge the thieves to steal more?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    The State can buy stolen property,
    January 26, 2013 4:21 pm
    when they want to, you do it, and you go to jail.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    $200 and
    January 26, 2013 3:06 pm
    he got it back. sweet!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    if the military doesn't want it back
    January 26, 2013 4:25 pm
    hmm. an empty tube, I'd like to hear the conversation with JBLM. "hello, this is the SPD, we have an empty tube here that shoots rockets" JBLM " is there a rocket in it?" SPD " no, just the rocket launcher" JBLM, "oh, it's already been used, you can throw it out" SPD, " but we paid $200 for it,
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Looks like a just for men ad
    January 26, 2013 3:09 pm
    Old boy holding the tube been coloring his stash?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Robert_C wrote...
    Outstanging......
    January 26, 2013 3:17 pm
    and by the way, it still wont stop the next shooting!!!!!!!! Fantasy Island in full swing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    sting was a success -
    January 26, 2013 3:41 pm
    name and home address to get guns when King Obama drops the hammer.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GoldFish wrote...
    New in the box
    January 26, 2013 3:48 pm
    somebody actually gave the police a brand new shotgun for an f-en giftcard. what an idiot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    amount of guns
    January 26, 2013 4:20 pm
    other articles said 160 guns? which is it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monkeyal wrote...
    Hope the cops do not
    January 26, 2013 5:07 pm
    leave all the obtained guns in their vehicles. A few hundred down, 300,000,000 to go.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Monkey
    January 26, 2013 5:31 pm
    Or on top of thier cruiser. Tell ya what, when SPD can account for all thier issue weapons we'll talk.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    shhhhh.
    January 27, 2013 5:26 pm
    No one remembers that they're missing 16 or so of them, hush hush
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Correction
    January 26, 2013 5:39 pm
    This should read "hundreds of stupid people, and soon to be victims, showed up for Seattle gun buyback. But in a way it is ok, the obviously had no business owning a gun in the first place.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Realitycheck...hundreds of stupid people?
    January 26, 2013 9:50 pm
    If Mr. Amazon wants to pay me $700.00 for my 7 ancient firearms, that aren't worth $700.00, it would be "stupid" not to accept that offer. Wouldn't you concur? I thought so.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Well
    January 27, 2013 8:04 am
    If they overpaid for old weapons, yeah I agree. But is that what really happened here?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }