Champaign, IL gun buyback: All 104 guns collected by make, model

[Templar223]

Guns Save Life sent FOIA bombs to local police agencies seeking lists of the guns turned in at the August 4th gun buyback in Champaign, IL.

While we'd never even hope to get a similar list from Chicago for their buyback, this local list does reaffirm our earlier experiences about the nature of guns turned in - just junk. Pure junk.

It also put our mind to ease that some really nice guns were getting bought for pennies on the dollar.

Interestingly enough, it looks as though less than one percent of the guns turned in were previously reported as lost, stolen or otherwise listed in a police report.

See for yourself. Here's the whole story, and the list.

All the best,

John

 

[481]

Thanks for the link. When will the libs learn? Offer $50 for a gun, get $50 worth of junk.

I noticed this, too-

There were lots of 16 ga. shotguns.

Yeah, I bet everyone feels safer now that those are off of the street.

 

[Trent]

Our local range rallies behind these gun buy backs, encouraging members to trade in old busted up Iver Johnsons and other scrap.

We use the proceeds to acquire replacement lumber for pin shoots, target back stops, etc, and to fund annual raffle/drawing prizes.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Well....most of them were junk. The linked article points out the Colt Detective Special, and I might have also paid good money, depending on condition, for the Ruger Single Six, the Beretta 101, and the Savage 1917.

 

[firesky101]

The article did also state that no centerfire rifles got turned in. On page 1 of the list there is an unknown manufacturer .30 cal bolt action. Still, most of it was junk.

 

[Templar223]

Oops. Missed that one. Boltac? No, I didn't read that as a bolt action.

 

[Tinpig]

Not necessarily all junk. Depending on condition, there were at least 10 guns on that list that I would be happy to own, including Colts, Savages, S&Ws, Winchester, Feg, and Sauer.

Tinpig

 

[jman74]

S&W Model 29....

 

[mgmorden]

Yeah, there was an H&R .22LR Sportsman and an H&R 732 on that list. Also saw a FEG PA63. Those aren't exactly expensive guns but they're not junk either.

As a matter of fact I'd say that while most of what I saw on the list weren't prize posessions, most of it wasn't junk. There are just a few Rohm, Jennings, Lorcin, and FIE's there but about 80% of it looks like cheaper shotguns and handguns from the days of old (lots of H&R and Iver Johnson) and such.

Personally though I hate these programs regardless. Even though it was below expectations they'll still parade around that they took 104 guns "off the street". I'll not contribute to upping that number that they portray as a positive move. If I had something I wanted to get rid of that bad I'd destroy it myself before ever giving it to one of these programs.

 

[TIMC]

I would love to see a nice $100 a gun buy back around here, I have 3-4 junkers I would dump in a heart beat.

 

[SeanSw]

Sad to see that list in my hometown. At least the list isn't any longer. I strongly agreee that $5000 would be much more well spent on firearm education and gun safety than a buyback.

It truly sickens me that the word "buyback" is acceptable for these events, implying that the guns used to belong to them and they're being returned to their rightful owners.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Dang sean, Well said.

(Sound of applause!)

The NRA should pick up on your statement.

JT

 

[Buck Kramer]

No wonder I can't find any Iver Johnson Champions around.....

 

[drcook]

When I first met my wife 19 yrs ago, I was trying to get a Luger her uncle had took off an SS officer. Before I could talk him into it, he took it and traded it in for a 75.00 food coupon in the City of Cleverland Ohio, just to get it out of the house.....................

She wouldn't let me tell him he p*ssed a minimum of 750.00 down the drain

 

[pockets]

They are "buying back" muzzle-loading guns now? #22 is listed as a 'Armi .36 Navy'? Sounds like an Italian replica cap'n'ball revolver to me.

And ooooh, #11 'JC Higgins Model 88' is the .22LR 'High Standard Sentinel' revolver made for Sears. Mine is a great shooter.
.

 

[powder]

The purchases were sponsored by a church, the local pd did the collection and data processing.

I miss the point in the article about needing to "publicly embarrass" the church.

If people have a piece of junk pistol, and they need grocery money more, what's the problem? Some folks have decided they want to live w/o certain firearms, that's their freedom to choose.

 

[berettaprofessor]

When I first met my wife 19 yrs ago, I was trying to get a Luger her uncle had took off an SS officer. Before I could talk him into it, he took it and traded it in for a 75.00 food coupon in the City of Cleverland Ohio, just to get it out of the house.....................

I teared up a little here....

 

[Templar223]

So why not take them to a gun shop if they are valuable, as opposed to getting low-balled by a church?

 

[k_dawg]

What are the actual requirements that they use to determine if it is a 'firearm'?

What is to stop someone from mail ordering a 'non firearm' reciever flat, taking two minutes to fold/finish it [ now legally a firearm by BATFE regulations] and turning that in?

 

[barnbwt]

Is it legal to set up a competing buy back stand next door to these places? Seems an easy way to score some good deals, since you could always refuse a deal for broken trash. 150$ for a working firearm is a pretty good deal, and a very good deal for several of the pieces mentioned...

I've often wondered, conversely, what legal shenanigans would be needed to operate a gun "pay-forward" kiosk that legally sells donated (working) guns at low prices to vulnerable inner-city folks. If ID checks are performed as required by law for a legal sale, it seems the "baddies" with histories/prohibition would have a difficult time picking up arms easily (well, easier than they already do), and some good folks may just get the means to protect themselves out of the deal.

TCB

 

[barnbwt]

K_dawg; from what I've heard, the bar is pretty low. I've heard tales of gun activists welding up conduit and 2x4's to make "zip gun" lookalikes that will fool the poor ignoramuses handing out coupons. Honestly, a broken Iver Johnson is probably less of a firearm than that; no good for anything but brandishing. I would imagine these guys can't tell a Ma Duece from a flintlock, so a conduit musket would seem likely to be turn-in-able.

I wonder if air-soft stuff ever gets turned in? Seems like fake guns are used in a lot of robberies (again, brandishing), and get a lot of folks shot by officers who somehow can't tell a close replica from the real thing

TCB

Wait a... I've got a crummy Belgian clone of a S&W 44 breaktop that won't time right! Cha-Ching!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I've got a useless Colt 1860 replica with a loose barrel. Then again buybacks are illegal under NH law.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Glad to see all those terribly awful assault, kid killing weapons are off the streets.

[/sarcasm]

 

[MachIVshooter]

There are a couple dozen guns on that list I'd pay more than $50 for.

That said, people who are too lazy to do just a little bit of research regarding the value of their possession deserve to get "short-changed" on it's sale. That's why, save for something like the little old lady selling her late husband's collection, I don't feel bad about paying a very low asking price to a seller who failed in the due diligence department.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Hey, they did get 104 guns out of bedroom closets and dresser drawers...