mcginnbuyback.jpg
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn refuses to appear on the Ron and Don Show to debate the effectiveness of gun buybacks. (AP file)

Why won't Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn debate gun buyback with KIRO Radio's Ron and Don?

BY Josh Kerns  on January 31, 2013 @ 12:40 pm (Updated: 4:20 pm - 1/31/13 )

UPDATE: A spokesman for Mayor McGinn has politely declined Don's request to appear on the show again as of Thursday afternoon. Don now vows to stalk him and confront the mayor in public since the mayor won't come to him. Stay tuned!

Seattle mayor Mike McGinn's plans to stage another gun buyback is drawing sharp criticism on KIRO Radio's Ron and Don Show, and the mayor refuses to come on to talk about it.

Don argues the gun buyback and the concurrent open-air gun market that broke out around last Saturday's event in Downtown Seattle was nothing more than a "circus" and PR stunt that did little to solve the ongoing problem of gun violence.

But a spokesman for the mayor repeatedly declined requests for an interview this week.

"He doesn't want to talk about guns and he doesn't want to talk about this farce in my opinion," Don says. "He needs to be stopped and it is my intent if he does this again to stop him."

Don says he simply wants a "vigorous and respectful" debate, but questions whether the mayor really wants the same.

"He wasn't declining Q13 when he went on there and they gave him all these softballs, and he wasn't declining all the television cameras when he could just jump out there and say 'Hey we got three street sweepers and we saved a lot of lives today,'" Don says.

The mayor and other officials called the buyback an overwhelming success, despite the influx of private gun sellers that flocked to the area. Police say people turned in over 700 guns including several high-capacity shotguns.

But Don blasts the mayor for even considering another buyback given what happened Saturday.

"He called it a gun bazaar, he called it insanity, he called it crazy and so he wants to do it again."

Ron and Don both argue the mayor is simply using the buybacks as photo opps for his re-election effort, even though many agree they do little to address the real issues such as mental illness.

"You [Don] want to apparently actually solve a problem of violence against people, he [McGinn] wants to do something that appears like he's doing something," Ron said to Don in response to his complaints about the mayor's approach.

"Buying guns back isn't going to help. Demonizing the AR-15 isn't going to help. Demonizing people that wrap themselves in the Second Amendment and the NRA is not going to help," Ron says.

"This is a complex problem and there's nothing that bothers me more than people trying to give really easy solutions to complex problems. They're just coming at it willy nilly. No strategy. Your strategy is 'Oh my gosh something bad happened, now what do we do.'"

Don vows that if McGinn won't come on the show to discuss the issue, he'll simply provide the opportunity for all the other mayoral candidates to appear and talk about it instead.

Listeners from the Ron and Don Nation have strong feelings about the mayor as well as Ron and Don's argument the gun buyback is a failure and shouldn't be repeated:

Mark: "Mr. Mayor, please have another gun buyback program, the last one was a great advertisement I didn't even know about it. For those of us that want to buy more guns, I'll be there. Just let me know the date and time."

Sharon: "You just don't get it. We in Seattle are in favor of the gun buyback program initiated by our mayor. It really does work. Stop your senseless rambling."

Mark: "It's silly that we're even talking about guns. It's the sick people that use gun, not the law abiding citizens like me."

Claire: "The mayor is a serious coward. Every show that presents to him the slightest bit of challenge, he slinks away from, respectfully though. He's a bit passive aggressive this way and really needs to represent Seattle as a leader in some of these issues and not shy away."

What do you think?

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 (75)


  • Add A Comment

  • messiah101 wrote...
    Can't think of ONE reason why the Mayor
    January 31, 2013 12:57 pm
    Would want to help a couple of assist a couple of two bit Right Wing radio HACKs boost their ratings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    Ron n Don right wing?
    January 31, 2013 1:16 pm
    You don't listen to the show much do you?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    messiah doesn't much LISTEN to anything
    January 31, 2013 1:25 pm
    except to get his talking points. ... Otherwise, he 'knows everything' already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Every one who disagrees w/ assiah is a "nut job".
    January 31, 2013 2:19 pm
    Ignore him. He's menatally challenged.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pat McGrone wrote...
    It's "mentally challenged". Idiot.
    January 31, 2013 2:43 pm
    Public cop drop out....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    AKAF
    February 1, 2013 7:17 am
    I'm judging these clowns by the statements quoted in the article.No one can deny they swing to the far far right on this topic.They have a format of "false" disagreement thats popular in radio markets across the country.Their problem is that they are not as good at it as other radio hosts
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    HA HA HA HA HA
    January 31, 2013 4:57 pm
    Messiah, you are SO funny!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Right Wing?
    January 31, 2013 7:03 pm
    Messiah, you are a true idiot. And sticking up for Mayor McMubbles really proved how STUPID and ill-informed you really are... Mike McGuinn is an incompetent, liberal chickenshit, who is capable of running the night shift at Taco Bell... In fact, you M101 would probably do a better job. And you are border line retarded....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Fish
    February 1, 2013 7:21 am
    I'm not sticking up for the mayor at all I simply stated that he has nothing to gain by going on the show.Fish your the run of the mill Far Right Nut job who has no concept of how things work.Your just sad sonny
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    WOW!!!
    February 1, 2013 8:16 am
    Those guys are FAR from being right wing...maybe your measuring scale needs calibration!!! They are god-hating, homo loving, anti moralists who are truly lefters!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    Mess'd Up
    February 1, 2013 12:12 pm
    These two tards aren't really that covservative?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SweetieInSeattle wrote...
    Mayor/Gun buy backs
    February 1, 2013 8:01 pm
    I totally agree with you Don and feel the same way about these buy backs..crazy! Stupid Mayor!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • boeingmarcus wrote...
    The bigger question is why WOULD he want to be on your show?
    February 2, 2013 7:42 am
    You've mocked his name for years in a very immature way. Now you are just using this as some kind of ratings grab for attention. I stopped listening to your show a few months ago, I still read MyNorthwest and from the looks of it you two are still idiots.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    The mayor
    January 31, 2013 1:04 pm
    would come off looking like Barney Fife.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    Fuego-- you left out
    January 31, 2013 3:55 pm
    The Mayor

    AND his entire team of advisors

    would come out looking like Barney Fife

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Barney Fife
    January 31, 2013 5:38 pm
    on a Schwinn. I hope they do conduct another gun buyback. I'll be back with another pocket of cash. If he keeps this up I'll have to buy a third safe!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    As usual messy.
    January 31, 2013 1:18 pm
    You are dead wrong. R and D are so far to the left they are at the edge of the cliff. I won't push them over though because they are really fun to listen to. I remember when the term was hire the retarted their fun to watch, well that is no longer politicly correct so we substitute liberal. The outcome is the same.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    HLC
    February 1, 2013 7:23 am
    If you don't see that these two clowns are hard Right on this gun issue then your hopeless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Dumb and Dumber // crazy donkey[noon guy] will never have Mayor Mike McGinn on their shows
    January 31, 2013 1:39 pm
    ok do your thing Dave Ross. Have Mayor Mike McGinn on your show. Any show pass noon is just for entertainment like me. Fox News Wannabe.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    It's PAST not pass. Idiot.
    January 31, 2013 2:20 pm
    Public school drop out....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WiIliam Lawn wrote...
    duh...
    January 31, 2013 3:32 pm
    That's because you're an uneducated idiot who's too busy kissing his obama doll.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • don over taxed wrote...
    Great Picture
    January 31, 2013 1:52 pm
    Could someone get this guy a shave and haircut. What an image for Sickle Town.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Typical democrat - "It's a complex problem"
    January 31, 2013 1:56 pm
    So I guess that justifies stupid decisions...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Forget it
    January 31, 2013 2:15 pm
    The Mayor-County Exec-Governor-will only come on a "good old boys" show like Dave Ross-where there is much laughing & sweet talking-but not much in the way of hard questions & follow ups. Say what you will about Dori Monson & Ron & Don-they will ask the hard questions & never give a "pass". I may not like/agree with everything these hosts have to say-but I like that about them
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Liberals do not like to be told they are wrong. Ever.
    January 31, 2013 2:18 pm
    Their fragile, narcissistic "brains" cannot take it. It's not "fair". As a result, they will run & hide whenever confronted w/ facts, the truth or math.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SMarti018 wrote...
    Stop with the political bullying/name calling!
    January 31, 2013 3:29 pm
    All you out their blaming the "left" or the "right" are really lame... Grow up and learn how to work together and solve the problems we have, compromise like we used to, solve problems like we used to... Now all you left wing and right wing low life's can do anymore is name call and make fun of each other and fight! We preach to our children to be kind to each other and that bullying and name calling is bad, yet look at what you guys do to each other online? No wonder our country is going down the crapper! We dont compromise and solve problems or build things anymore! We name call and yell at and make fun of the opposite party we are associated with! Grow up, you all should be ashamed of your self's.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    stuff it dipwad
    January 31, 2013 4:45 pm
    It's too late for playing nice. The party is over. The tipping point has been reached. The ship is going down...better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone....and you've just now figured out the country is going down the crapper? Congratulations genius.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Smarti
    January 31, 2013 5:41 pm
    I firstly preached to my children to be right and to stand up for themselves and what they believe. Being nice is, well, nice, but not necessary when your right.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wow SMarti018
    January 31, 2013 7:15 pm
    That was deep.... Perhaps you're new to the MYNW blog. There are some people (M101, Cbrew, CH, WSUalumn...) on this site that are sooo incredibly narrow minded and ill-informed that its almost as if they are 7 or 8 years old....apparently, you must be Maypr McMubbles mother or daughter? Stupid is as stupid does and if you've paid any attention to the idiots on the left you'd have a better understanding of why it's fun to make fun of the intellectually challenged Liberal Hypocrites.....try not to take it so hard. 30 Years f Democrats have run this State into the found. No go play with the kindergartners
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    Geez...take your own words and learn from them.
    January 31, 2013 11:33 pm
    ...what do you suggest besides growing up? This issue is about a left wing mayor buying back unused guns while having actual guns still on the street. It's a bad program program that solves nothing...Don is correct in this issue...gun issue will continue because the actual criminals didn't sell back their guns...where is the 'left wing' or 'right wing' arguments represented in this argument?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jaysonoo7 wrote...
    He is upset because
    January 31, 2013 2:19 pm
    He is upset because his dog and pony show got called out for what it is... No criminal is going to any gun buy back program what you have in that scrap bin are broke and or cheap guns that were worth less then the cards that they got for them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    While I agree with Ron n Don the buyback was a waste, we...
    January 31, 2013 2:22 pm
    While I agree that the buyback was a waste, we disagree as to the "why." The buyback didn't work because there were no criminals there turning in their firearms. Zero, Zip, Nada, None. Not one criminal turned in a firearm. So the criminal element in Seattle is still well and fine with their firearms, but there are many law abiding citizens who are now targets for said criminals since they are now unarmed at home with nothing to stop a crime from happening when a criminal comes toting a gun. This kind of stupidity needs to stop. Disarming law abiding citizens WILL NOT stop criminals.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }