Dallas Buy back event at Reunion Arena on Feb 28th.
I am very disappointed with Kroger's involvement in this event. For two specific reasons
1) As a second amendment supporter I disagree that this will achieve any substantial crime reduction, while removing the self defense ability of people who live in high crime, and high poverty areas who are making a hard decision as to whether to keep a self defense weapon, or put food on the table.
2) The nature and marketing of the event makes me believe that the event is specifically targeted at the Hispanic and Black ethnic groups.
Obviously your sponsorship is designed to provide minimal cost to you, and your research has not adequately covered the current costs of firearms, $50 for a functional firearm (long or hand gun) is a pittance, to the point of insult. Also by the requirement of identification to be presented, this has eliminated the possibility of removing illegally owned firearms from circulation, which would have been a much better goal. At the same time small families at or below the poverty line might decide that 1 or two days of food might be a more important short term goal than having a self defense weapon available to them. These people often live in areas for instance Oak Cliff, where having a defensive weapon might in a very real sense be the only thing standing between that family and criminals.
I'm not holding Kroger solely responsible for the event and requirements, but being sponsor you would have had input on the event, and could have recommended that no identification be required.
Due to this I will be voting with my dollars and frequenting Safeway, or Albertsons in future.
