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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)


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  • mpblue wrote...
    What bemuses me about this is . . .
    January 27, 2013 5:20 am
    . . . Seattle is about to throw out a shoulder patting themselves on their collective back for this so-called buy back. Yet, for as progressive and green as the city claims to be, they will create a large carbon footprint from the large engine, gas guzzling vehicles used to transport the firearms to their station, from their station to the smelter and the carbon footprint the smeltering process will make to convert this steel into "rebar." Good heavens! The energy alone needed to fire the pots and run the machinery to make the rebar would make Greenpeace swoon. Tack on the carbon ejected into the atmosphere from the process alone. Then we have the hidden costs. Seattle is paying for the fuel for the vehicles to transport the firearms and to pay for the uniforms standing around and working the "buy back" (no, they weren't there out of the goodness of their hearts - state labor laws wouldn't allow it). So much for being a green city there, Seattle!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    hey, if it save's one kid
    January 27, 2013 3:59 pm
    then it's all worth it, we did our best to make Seattle a safe place for immigrents, pot smokers, and families
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dead Fish wrote...
    Great Order
    January 27, 2013 8:15 pm
    "immigrants, pot smokers, and families" That pretty much sums up the order of importance this twisted city and the liberal elite prioritizes things. Nice.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    mpblue...The carbon footprint was much greater.
    January 27, 2013 9:42 pm
    Vehicles were backed up on the off ramp trying to get in to the parking lot where the buyback was taking place. Because of the turn out, people just sat in their cars, engines running, waiting for their turn. The reason for so many walkups was due to the traffic jam between Cherry and James. It was faster to park blocks away and walk up with your firearm. A strange site to see so many people carrying rifles across the street from the King Cointy Jail. And definitely not a green event.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    I know the gift cards were paid for by "donation".
    January 27, 2013 6:59 am
    But how about the Police officers? Overtime? How many? If they were on their regular shift, how many people were being robbed, assaulted, raped, while the media circus kept the cops from being on the streets?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • IrwinBusk wrote...
    Hurray!
    January 27, 2013 7:17 am
    For the private buyers! Keep up the good work.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Just like Gore
    January 27, 2013 7:33 am
    They are against it, unless they can profit. T H E N ??????? Who gives a d-mm sell U S A down a hole. The lib's..... Just watch a hooker at work, the mirror to the left.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    Score
    January 27, 2013 8:48 am
    While I stood in line to turn in an old single shot break open 20ga that was so rusted open that the break was rusted shut, an elderly lady filed in behind me. She had a Colt Commander 1911 that her son left her in his will. Flawless. Looked like it had never been fired. I offered her $300 cash. She told me that, while she didn't like guns, she wasn't going to pass up the chance to make extra money either and sold it to me. I sent an officer buddy of mine a text with the serial number and had him run it. Came back clean. It was a pretty good day. Thanks SPD!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    good score
    January 27, 2013 4:00 pm
    I'll give you $400, :-)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • El Duderino wrote...
    Jealous of doublej
    January 27, 2013 6:50 pm
    Next time I need to get my butt down there with a bunch of fifties in hand! You got a $1000 gun, at least.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    We should reward these citizens
    January 27, 2013 10:57 am
    By listing those addresses in the paper of recently unarmed households. That way, bad people won't go there looking to steal their guns!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Rangerhawk.....Why do assume everyone there
    January 27, 2013 1:05 pm
    sold ALL their weapons?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Sold, donated, surrendered
    January 27, 2013 1:31 pm
    Moot point.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    My point was..
    January 27, 2013 4:34 pm
    Many people traded in their old, damaged, worthless guns for compensation and kept their newer, higher value weapons. Is that a moot point as well?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • El Duderino wrote...
    Not to liberals
    January 27, 2013 9:07 pm
    If it makes them feel better it was worth it to them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    MORE
    January 27, 2013 12:55 pm
    LIBERAL HYPOCRISY IN ACTION.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }