Buying guns at a gun buyback

Status
Not open for further replies.
tuckerdog1

tuckerdog1

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
1,265
Location
TX
It troubles me to say Austin is having a 'groceries for guns' buyback this weekend. This kinda thing shouldn't happen in Texas. But it's Austin. Berkeley with cowboy hats. Guess they did this back in June & brought in 350 firearms ( per the article I read )

Two firearms max can be turned in. $100 for handguns & rifles, $200 for assault rifles. Gun dealers not elegible for turn in ( like that would happen ):confused:

Anyway, you know what I ( and probably many others ) are thinking. Go down there with a sack full of cash & see what bargins we might find.

But wondering what the APD might have up their sleeves to deter my working a deal or two.

Has anybody gone to one of these buybacks and tried to cut a deal? Did the authorities leave you alone? If not, what did they do to mess things up? If anybody was actually able to get a good deal, would you care to share?

Thanks,
Tuckerdog1
 
I don't know, but I'd be happy to come im me with details please. I live in the area.
 
I would be very leary of trying to purchase one of those weapons. Chances are they are stolen, altered, illegal, etc....or they wouldn't be taking amnesty and bottom dollar on the sale of it.
 
I remember several people on this forum talking about the same exact thing. The problem is, most police officers are uninformed of the laws and overly arrogant. When they see you buying guns in a COMPLETELY LEGAL way, they see an "illegal unregistered sale" and will try and give you grief. I would just stay away, i wouldn't want any of those guns anywheys. These gun by backs are the perfect way for criminals to dispose of stolen and "hot" guns. I wouldn't want to take the risk. The last thing I need is a cop with an attitude catching me legally buying a stolen gun in a cash transfer.
 
I would be very leary of trying to purchase one of those weapons. Chances are they are stolen, altered, illegal, etc....or they wouldn't be taking amnesty and bottom dollar on the sale of it.
Click to expand...

These gun by backs are the perfect way for criminals to dispose of stolen and "hot" guns. I wouldn't want to take the risk. The last thing I need is a cop with an attitude catching me legally buying a stolen gun in a cash transfer.
Click to expand...

The vast majority of pictures I've seen from these "buy backs" contain little old grandmas selling off dear departed granddad's beautiful, old shotgun. Or Granddad selling off his old WW2 1911 bring-back so the grandkids don't play with it. They need groceries more than they need the gun.

These things never actually seem to result in too many "illegal" weapons showing up. I think it's much easier to dispose of a "hot" gun by wiping it and throwing it into a random dumpster or storm drain than actually taking into a crowd of police officers.
 
While legal, you will absolutely be hassled by the police. If you can somehow catch them before they make their way onto whatever property is hosting the event you may be ok, but will probably still be pestered.
 
That would be a great idea, but my concern would be the legality of some of those guns. You could probably offer a guy $150 for a handgun or rifle and really make $ on it if you try to re-sell it, but again if the ATF catches you with an illegal gun you better find a lawyer.
 
How would that work? What if I buy a gun from a private sell I meet and the gun happens to be stolen, don't you have to knowingly receive stolen goods for it to be a crime, I mean I know the gun would be confiscated but you'd only be out $50-$100, and I certainly wouldn't resell something I bought at a buy back.
 
Carry a sign with your phone number, and the promise of better money. Hard to argue (or arrest) for that. Set the deals up later, without the chaperones.
 
First, provided that FTF sales are legal, I'd take some cash and go down there and hang out and see what people bring up. I might even bring a sign with me that says, "I give X $ for X guns." I would just hang out and watch and see what goes on and what people bring in. Keep the sign hidden until you see something just really worth the effort to negotiate (the fabled M1 Garand, or an M4, a 1911, or a Browning High Power, or an AK47...).

Make 100% sure that you follow all FTF laws to the letter, including checking the persons' license for age, residency, etc. And for good measure I would ask all the right questions like, "are you the lawful owner of this gun," and questions like that.

I would print a copy of the laws for FTF private sales and take it with me in case you get harrassed. You might also bring a friend and at least 1 camcorder in the event the police attempt to drive you off a public street. Provided you follow the law, you should be GTG.
 
I recall reading the story of a widow who turned in her late husband's Winchester 1897 shotgun at a gun buy-back because she had no use for it. A gun collector, hunter or cowboy action sports shooter would have given 400.00 to 700.00 for that gun.

If the goal is to get unwanted guns "off the streets", they should send the guns thru a NCIC check for hot or stolen guns, then to a gun shop to get the owner a good value and the gun a good home.

If the goal is to randomly select the one of 10,000 guns that might be used in a murder, they should rethink costs v benefits of other policies.
 
How would that work? What if I buy a gun from a private sell I meet and the gun happens to be stolen, don't you have to knowingly receive stolen goods for it to be a crime, I mean I know the gun would be confiscated but you'd only be out $50-$100, and I certainly wouldn't resell something I bought at a buy back.
Click to expand...

For me & all the folks in Illinois, if the guy who is giving his gun to the buyback does not have a FOID card, the sale would be illegal. It wouldn't do us much good because I guarentee that most people participating in the buy back don't have FOID cards and a lot of the guns are illegal.
 
For those in the Austin area, here is a link to the article I read. It has location, date & time info.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/APD-brings-back-Guns-for-Groceries-buyback-program-116601818.html

Make 100% sure that you follow all FTF laws to the letter, including checking the persons' license for age, residency, etc. And for good measure I would ask all the right questions like, "are you the lawful owner of this gun," and questions like that.
Click to expand...

Leadcouncel, excellent advice. I wouldn't put it past the APD to try and entrap potential buyers by having someone not legal in some way attempt to sell a firearm.

Tuckerdog1
 
Carry a sign with your phone number, and the promise of better money. Hard to argue (or arrest) for that. Set the deals up later, without the chaperones.
Click to expand...

I'm all for this approach, and/or printing up a bunch of flyers and giving them out to those contemplating the sale. That way, you'd have more control over what you're getting, with a better opportunity to get the seller's contact info, check the S/N, etc. Warranted or not, you're likely to be harassed if you interfere with the city's grand scheme to end violence.
 
I know one guy that personally bought two guns in the mannner.

Someone showed up at his place of work and asked if the gun buy back was here & today. He said no he didn't know anything. Then, "Wait, what do you have?". He got 2 shotguns.

Going to the location could end up in drama with the police. Maybe or Maybe not. I'd say more likely to be a story involved.
 
$100/200? ...Seriously, that's robbery.

You would think that a program as auteristic as "guns for groceries" would value items a bit more... Fairly? I mean, since we're obviously helping those so destitude that they need to sell their firearms off just to make ends meet, wouldn't we all want to give them as much money as possibly? Even a used hi-point will sell for more than that minumum. :rolleyes:

What a crock.
 
I would think if a PO asked you to leave you would be well advised to actually leave.

You are looking for trouble RIGHT OR WRONG by doing this. It is kind of like the open carry issue. Sure its legal but you WILL be hassled.

But, like open carry, I do see it as a valuable awareness tool for the community.
 
Last edited:
You know, considering it's Texas and this is paid for with tax dollars, how hard would it be to contact the TSRA and protest?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
AZ:Phoenix Gun Turn in "buyback" Dates Announced for May 2013
Replies
12
Views
651
armoredman
armoredman
T
  • Locked
Gun Buyback program
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
The Grand Inquisitor
T
D
  • Locked
Any Information on the Miami area Turn in (buyback) events on 27 July?
Replies
2
Views
395
Dean Weingarten
D
B
  • Locked
Can I turn a gun buyback into cash?
Replies
5
Views
601
Justin
Justin
D
  • Locked
Now THIS is Activism that pays off immediately - "Gun Buyback Misfires"
2 3
Replies
50
Views
4K
Mk VII
M
Back
Top