Seattle police to trace status of missile launcher

January 27, 2013 @ 4:06 pm

SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle police are tracking down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a Saturday weapons buyback event in Seattle.

Detective Mark Jamieson says a man standing outside the buyback event bought the military weapon for $100 from another person at the event. The item, a single-use device that had already been used, is a launch tube assembly for a Stinger portable surface-to-air missile.

He says detectives will notify the Army Criminal Investigation Command on Monday.

Jamieson says the launcher is a controlled military item and is not available to civilians through any surplus or disposal program offered by the government. He says it is most likely that the launch tube was previously obtained unlawfully from the military, and would likely be returned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (25)


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  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Amazon and Jeff Bezoa gave over $2.5MM to Washington United for Marriage to support R74
    January 8, 2013 10:32 am
    Affecting less than 5% of the population And they give $30K to Seattle for a gun buyback program that affects 100% of the population. If I didn't know better, I would say the former was a cheap publicity stunt. I hope that WA4Marriage and the Seattle LGBT community reciprocate by putting millions into this effort. It is the right thing to do.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    since the Seattle taxpayers own the SPD guns . . . .
    January 8, 2013 12:52 pm
    can they turn them in? and the answer is .........
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    "...something _ anything..."
    January 8, 2013 6:10 pm
    Feels good, so must be OK- sheesh. CT has tough gun control laws already. So does Chicago and DC. Let's try something different, like arming all teachers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    wait till the kid comes in with his gun . . . .
    January 9, 2013 6:17 am
    says Stick 'Em Up!. bet he gets more than $200.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MagneticPatriot wrote...
    Important detail that needs to be out there...
    January 9, 2013 12:12 pm
    ...its written "UP TO $100 gift card in exchange for handguns, shotguns and rifles" and "UP TO $200 gift card will be given for assault weapons" Many are putting this out to fast and not paying attention to details!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Therefore....
    January 27, 2013 2:12 pm
    if I once used my bowling ball to assault my neighbor it thence became known as an "assault weapon". Can I get 200.00 for it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Ronj.....You might get $200.00
    January 27, 2013 9:52 pm
    for the canon that shoots your bowling ball. :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pressman wrote...
    So-
    January 26, 2013 8:08 am
    Can I come down and buy some of these guns?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    @Pressman....yep, you could've.
    January 26, 2013 8:04 pm
    Right out of the trunks of peoples cars. As they were waiting just to get in to the parking lot, people with signs offering to pay cash for guns were walking up to peoples cars asking if they had any "good stuff" they wanted to sell. And some people did, without bothering to park. And it was permitted in liberal, progressive downtown Seattle as long as you had a concealed weapons permit. Btw, were you one of those carrying a sign trying to play "lets make a deal"? You could've ended up with an arsenal of weapons on the cheap, no questions asked.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    You do not need a CWP
    January 27, 2013 2:13 pm
    to sell a gun in a private transaction.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Ronj........Noted.
    January 27, 2013 9:47 pm
    Thanks
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Ahh, moving the goalposts.
    January 26, 2013 10:12 am
    I had a girlfriend that kept doing that to me. So, now you must show up in a vehicle.(so they can take plates) And then argue with some fat, bullethead LEO "pro" about the condition of my firearm? Nope, id rather stick needles in my eyes then go to Seattle and endure that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Four types of people will show up:
    January 26, 2013 10:41 am
    Those morons looking to be outgunned by the criminals (and feel good about it), those criminals looking for a safe disposal method of a firearm used in a crime, those who look to get more $$$ than their broken down firearm is worth, and finally those who just need the cash. Who do these buIlshit programs help? The criminals, and a few people that need a little extra cash. All in all, its the taxpayers paying big bucks to give the criminals a bigger advantage. Way to go Seattle liberals!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • El Duderino wrote...
    Well
    January 27, 2013 6:53 pm
    That's what happened with the Street Sweeper shotguns. Unless they were registered back in the 90s they are highly illegal to possess. Some folks figured this was an easy way to get rid of contraband.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    An non-functioning missile launcher is off the streets?
    January 26, 2013 1:23 pm
    I feel safer already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    And that's what it's about,
    January 27, 2013 2:15 pm
    my friend, "feeling safer". Whaddaya think is behind door #3
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    When do we get to see pics?
    January 26, 2013 2:03 pm
    Of the scarey missle launcher and the assault rifles taken from the evidence room?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • El Duderino wrote...
    No ARs
    January 27, 2013 6:55 pm
    I talked to a couple guys who were down there (to buy guns, of course) and they saw no ARs or AKs being turned in. Mostly old, decrepit guns. They would have embarrassed themselves if the buy back was only for military pattern semi-auto rifles, no one would have showed up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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