“What we’re talking today is the unwanted gun. The gun in your home, the gun in your business. Folks are scared of that gun. It’s a time bomb waiting to go off.” Seattle Police Deputy Chief Nick Metz, Seattle-area leaders announce new gun buyback program [via blogs.seattletimes.com]

98 COMMENTS

  1. The very idea of an “unwanted” gun just breaks my heart.

    Wont someone please think of the gun! Please!

    • Sadly, most, if not all of them, will be “put to sleep” rather than adopted and given good homes.

      • I’m part of a foster program with my local gun shelter. So many just can’t find good homes, I end up adopting the little babies myself.

        • Can you give some information to those of us who ache to help, by opening such a shelter in our own locales?

          Unwanted guns: it breaks my heart every single day.

          Please help, if you can! If it saves even one gun….

      • So sad.

        I propose a new organization. The ASPCG. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Guns.

        Wouldnt you like to be a big brother to a gun like me?

        • Shire-man, it’s way worse than sad. Coaxing, is just a preliminary step. Especially coming from an “officer” with a privacy strap over his license to enforce the law, you call it a badge

      • Wow, I guess I should have read the other comments before looking up Sarahs commercial to quote. Now Im just sad and dissapointed.

    • I will gladly volunteer to take on as many unwanted guns as possible. Think about the babies man!

  2. One day, this quote will read thusly:
    “’What we’re talking today is the unwanted knife. The knife in your kitchen, the knife in your tackle box. Folks are scared of that knife. It’s a time bomb waiting to go off.’ Seattle Police Deputy Chief Nick Metz, Seattle-area leaders announce new knife buyback program.”

    It will be just as asinine then as it is now.

  3. “It’s a time bomb waiting to go off….”

    There must be something in the air up there in Seattle…

    My five firearms have NEVER reacted the way this asshat states!

    • (sarcsasm) There is always spontaneous combustion..I think the police officer was talking about that..maybe we should send him to a physics class?

    • He’s auditioning for movie roles. Check the dude out! He hopes Hollywood is watching.

      But in the meantime, melting down some ticking guns will have to do. Except for the ones his officers decide to keep.

      Sometimes it seems the first settlers went just a tad too far west, doesn’t it?

  4. Whatever you do people, don’t PROVOKE the gun! Don’t irritate it and prod or poke at it and NEVER, EVER, back it in a corner. Run for your lives!

  5. This is a perfect example of the irrational emotional fear.

    It is gun phobia just as irrational as those who have other phobias like fear of flying, fear of spyders, fear of tall buildings, fear of elevators, fear of driving on highways with trucks and other non-sense fears.

    While those fears may be real to the people who have them and when they close their eyes all they visualize some irrational doom or death occuring to them, the rest of society should not have to suffer from those irrational fears and those people should go seek medical or mental health assistance.

    I am sure the officer saying those words was spoon fed the words, but this is the BS we face and you cannot fight irrational illogical fear with facts.

    What we need as a community is PSA messages showing survivors of home invasions and rape and other crimes and send a message that they law makers are making laws such that if that event happens again that they will no longer be able to protect themselves and would be dead. Does it make sense for law makers to make laws that prevents people from protecting themselves.

    We do not have the moral high ground so some emotions need to be displayed to provide a moral dilemma.

    • It’s not irrational fear. A Standing Army hates armed opposition. And the militarized no-knock thugswarm of today are indeed a de facto Standing Army.

      “Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed.” ~Noah Webster, 1787

      They need excused forthwith.

      “None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army.” ~Thomas Jefferson, 1803

      • To a law maker you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher.

        I know what you are saying but you are using the wrong words to fight this fight. They don’t listen or care about those qoutes — they have heard them all before and they don’t care — they need an emotional argument to counter other emotional argument — with no moral dilemma you loose.

        • Those “wrong words” are the first part of the Second Amendment, which was written to prevent a standing army.

          What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty….” ~Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, spoken during floor debate over the Second Amendment, I Annals of Congress at 750, August 17, 1789

          A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state…

          That’s the most important part. There is nothing “ambiguous” (as is often touted by Right Wing Authoritarian Militarists trying to keep their precious Standing Army in defiance of the Constitution which requires any raised army to be disbanded after 2 years) about it.

          If you don’t like the whole 2A, and want to piss on the first part while DiFi pisses on the latter, then fine, but those are the words I’m fighting with — the WHOLE thing.

        • Wow, Mike – you totally missed the point of what he said. He didn’t say that the Second Amendment was wrong, he’s saying that with people like this, you cannot reason with them, you need to stoop to their level and use emotional arguments.

        • I didn’t miss anything; he said “you are using the wrong words.”

          So what’s “wrong” with appealing to the anti-Authoritarian-Militarism embedded in the Second Amendment when making “emotional” appeals to the Left?

        • And again, you miss the point entirely. If you can’t read both what he said and my simplified explanation of what he said and understand the point, then I’m not wasting any more time on you.

        • The Right’s disdain of the anti-Militarist first part of the 2A has been just as corrosive to the Bill of Rights as the Left’s disdain of the the last part of the 2A.

          It’s time for the self-styled advocates of the 2A to face reality and accept the 2A in its entirety.

          The Constitution isn’t difficult to understand:

          1. No Standing Army.
          2. Any raised Army to be disbanded after 2 years.
          3. Citizen-soldier militia on the Swiss model of defense.
          4. A small officer cadre to well-regulate and drill the militia on the Swiss model of defense.

          Instead, the Authoritarian Right has sold its soul to the Military-Industrial-Complex that uses the US Military as a Mafia enforcement arm of private Corporate boardrooms, as noted by a two-time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as follows:

          War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

          […]

          I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

          During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

          ~Major General Smedley Butler, USMC, 1933 speech

        • I’m going to say this very clearly for you, for the last time. No one said that we shouldn’t be ready and willing to use force to defend ourselves or that the Second Amendment is outdated or anything like that. They said that the people that you are trying to reason with do not care about logic or facts, thus you must use the only thing they understand – emotions – to try to persuade them.

        • The Right often accuses the “emotional” Left of being anti-Military.

          What I’m saying is that the 2A is anti-Military (specifically, anti-Standing-Army,) as the “emotional” Left.

          The Right needs to give up their belligerent pro-Standing-Army stance that defies the first part of the 2A. The 2A offers PEACE, on the economical, effective Swiss model! (Or call it the Martha Stewart European Chalet model…anybody in marketing here? LOL!) What better way to gain broad support—emotional and logical—for the COMPLETE 2A?

      • This. Despite the minority of police / military who are decent people and like guns, the police and military are not our friends, they want to see us crushed beneath their heel and bowing before them. It’s no different than the minority of Democrats who own guns – just because some of them are on our side does not mean that the group is on our side.

    • “Spyders”?? WTF?

      It’s not tall buildings, or even high places for me; it’s being in an exposed position in a high place. Ladders, mostly. I leave a wide berth around ladders. LADDERS KILL, man!

  6. I think I have room for a few more foster guns. They could always send them my way if they have “unwanted” guns.

    • Well, not if you live on either of the coasts. The vast majority of cops in blue states think that way about guns. And if it’s not the cops, then it’s the judges. Here in NJ if you file a CCW application, it has to be OK’d by the superintendent of state police and then by a superior court judge. Well, the SAF have a lawsuit pending against judges who kept denying CCW applications even when the police chief approved it (which is rare in itself). So this sort of rhetoric does not surprise me one bit.

    • I bet anything the rank and file call him “Hollywood” behind his back. And some things we can’t repeat here.

    • This is what happens when cities put administrators – professional managers – over police and fire departments, instead of cops and firemen. And by “firemen”, I mean women who can do the job, too. Although picturing a woman carrying an unconscious fireman out of a flaming building is a stretch.

      If any of you caught that San Fran fire chief this weekend, you know what I’m talking about; you will never convince me she got to be Fire Chief by being good at fighting fires….

  7. Good grief. I think I understand now. The underlying source of all of our problems in our country is that many people have no courage any more. Anyone who views a firearm as a “ticking time bomb waiting to go off” isn’t right. Should we have deep respect for firearms and not handle them willy-nilly? Absolutely. This time bomb nonsense is silly.

  8. Dammit, I told the gun shop guy that I didn’t want any of the the “ticking time bomb” upgrades.

    • Maybe the guns are saving up for the right day, my oldest is a 114+ and it’s yet to go off. Guess Germany back then couldn’t build a timer to save themselves.

    • I came downstairs a couple of weeks ago to discover that my Springfield Model 1873 had jump off the wall and broken a lamp.

      I think maybe it’s starting.

      Run for the hills!!!

  9. I just had a job offer in the Seattle area. This type of thought process by LE makes it an easy “no thanks” decision.

    • It’s just Seattle, which is pretty much run by idiots. The Police in the surrounding areas are far more sensible.

    • I’d make sure to tell the company that. If they have enough potential hires turn them down because of the idiocy of local politicians, maybe they’ll start petitioning for better politicians / laws?

    • City-State society (Civilization) has always been repressive; the bigger the city, the more intense the despotism.

      As the sage of Monticello noted:

      When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.” ~Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787

      As confirmed by modern anthropology:

      “Civilization originates in conquest abroad and repression at home.” ~Stanley Diamond, In Search of the Primitive: A Critique of Civilization, p. 1, first sentence

    • Yeah, Seattle politicians are tards but the area is really nice and the laws generally are good and we need people around who’ll vote to keep them that way.

  10. This smuck just reinforces my dissappointment in LE in America. Gentlemen this is a time of choosing. Those in LE who are on our side need to be vocal and speak out EVERY TIME ONE OF THEIR SO CALLED COLLEAGUES SAYS SUCH A STUPID THING. It is not good enough to shrug or mumble that “I dont believe that crap “. You need to be activists Officers. You swore to protect and defend. You swore to respect and live by the Constitution. This is a time of choosing.

  11. So I’m the only one here who has their spouse provide covering fire whenever they need to go into the safe to grab something to make sure the “assault weapon” behaves?

  12. I’m so confused now. Why are all the cops carrying around time bombs on their hips? Seems irresponsible.

  13. I am ready to open an adoption agency. To those unwanted guns who are beyond saving I will give them a good funeral, for the rest I have room in my heart and home for them.

    • First, we need to send by a LCSW to make sure you have enough cleaning products for them. We don’t expect them to each get their own Holosight when they turn 18, but we do expect good hygiene!

  14. At least the question “will LE follow Obamas Executive Order to confiscate guns” has been answered.

  15. The article has a place to vote on your thoughts on the buy back. Only one of the four possible options is actually in favor of the buy back, the others are just variations on why it is a bad idea. I was vote 1,555 and at the time slightly more than 70% of the votes thought it was a bad idea. Most people seem to get the idea that these programs are a waste of time and money. Maybe the local powers that be should check the pulse of these asinine programs with the local electorate before moving forward.

  16. Is it time to start doing psychiatric evaluations of paranoid, phobic, anti-gun-nuts who are clearly having psychotic episodes complete with visions of inanimate objects taking on a life of their own? Then when found to be a threat to themselves and others they can get the help they clearly need, plus they won’t be able to pass a NICS check. The psych eval will probably prevent them from serving in police departments but won’t preclude them from political office. Oh, bother!

  17. Thats a great idea, I’m sure the people of Seattle will line up to buy the PD’s guns now that they no longer need them, Randy

    • Speaking of which, police depts nationwide continue to upgrade on the tax dime:

      Surfside Beach police get new guns

      SURFSIDE BEACH SC-

      On Tuesday, the Town Council authorized the purchase of new guns for police officers, costing $5,789.

      Interim Police Chief Rodney Keziah said a gun malfunctioned during a training exercise. He said it turned out the gun was 13 years old. Town Administrator Micki Fellner said the majority of the guns used by the department are in that age range and suggested the purchase was a “prudent measure to reduce liability.”

      The guns will remain the same caliber and the town will not need to purchase new ammunition or holsters, Keziah said.

      • So he had an ejection problem because he hasn’t cleaned the thing in 13 years! But that was bad, time for a new one? Haven’t they heard of a good gun smith?

        • Most likely an improperly loaded mag, limp wristing, or something simple like that.

          Police depts. have no incentive to fix perfectly good firearms when Joe Taxpayer buys them shiny new ones, AND they get first dibs to purchase the “old defective” guns for pennies on the dollar.

          Here is a link that describes this good ole boy slush scheme, it was a NC agency that pulled this scam on the taxpayer but its rampant nationwide. If the link doesnt work, google “NC ALE guns”

          http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2011/02/06/1965071/ale-trades-troublesome-guns.html

      • I’ll have to remember that one next time I come home with a new gun. “Honey, I had a malfunction at the range the other day. That gun was 13 years old. Gonna have to replace quite a few now. Several in the safe are older than that.”

        Wrt this story, malfunction: are talking stovepipe or explosion?

        • No further details, I copied and pasted as written in the lackofnewspaper.

          Most likely it was a simple malfunction that was operator induced, since this particular dept is a small town Barney Fife type agency that sees minimal action.

  18. I would expect nothing less from the Seattle PD and the Mayor. The police ran around murdering people and the mayor hates both the state and U.S. Constitutions. He passed an illegal executive order on weapons and even passed a law banning guns in state parks despite the state Attorney General telling him that the State Constitution forbid that law.

  19. If you click on the poll link, most Seattleites aren’t fooled… in response to the question, “Do you think Seattle’s newly announced gun buyback program will make us any safer?”

    50% of people polled on the website (about 785 people) responded “No, the bad guys aren’t going to be turning in their guns… ” and another 10% responded with “It’s a nice gesture, but these initiatives just don’t work.”

    Of course the remaining 40%… pshhht.

    • What makes you think that it’s just Seattle residents (“Satellites”) that are responding? I voted, and I am clear on the far side of the state, nearly in Idahoo.

      ANYBODY with an Internet connection can vote, even someone from Outer Mongolia, and that makes the poll more than useless.

      John Davies
      Spokane WA USA

      • Agreed. I’ve said this before. I don’t want to be a wet blanket, but it’s true.

        If you spend any time on ar15.com, you know that people routinely post “fire missions” for people to bombard surveys like these whenever they find them.

        I guess it still might be useful, for those that aren’t savvy enough to know that it works like that. Perhaps some know-nothing fence-sitter will, instead of seeing what Bloomberg said today and thinking he might be right, maybe they’ll see this poll and “realize” that he’s out of step with popular opinion.

  20. “What we’re talking today is the unwanted gun.”

    Hi, Im Sarah Mclachlan, will you be an angel for a helpless gun? Every day innocent guns are abused, neglected and they are crying out for help. Please call the number on your screen for the NRA with a monthly gift, right now.

    • yes i will be an angel to a helpless gun… but NOT to the nra. remember kids , the nra supports the gunMAKERS no the gun advocates like us

  21. Just like dogs that have irresponsible owners, I’m sure the same it true about guns and gun owners.

    It makes me want to start up a non-profit Gun Rescue Armory where irresponsible Gun owners can drop off/donate their firearms and we will find those firearms good homes/responsible owners.

    There might be something here…..

  22. I was doing some dry-fire practice the other day, with the gun unloaded and the ammo in the ammo storage closet. I went to the restroom, and then took the dog for a walk. When I returned, the gun had crawled halfway across the desk in the direction of the ammunition. I didn’t catch it moving; it was smart enough to freeze when I walked in. But I’m onto it!

    • Well my car and one of my pistols are GROUNDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE because I caught both of them sneaking back into the garage early one morning and they both reeked of alcohol and cigarettes!!!

  23. Unwanted guns? Well, I remember a rusty old Iver Johnson .32 that I saw at my local gun adoption agency a while ago. The poor thing looked ready to crumble to dust in my hand. I still felt a tug on my heart to give it a good home. Certainly, the guns that do live with me feel loved and cared for. There are guns that I can’t afford and guns that don’t immediately catch my eye, but I’ve never seen a gun that I don’t want, even if it’s only just a little desire.

  24. Those that would do you harm don’t want a gun in your home/business/car. Is this cop suggesting we should be defenseless against criminals that may be too underprivileged to attack on a level footing? They might not be able to afford guns, or perhaps there is a law against them buying guns and using them to commit acts of violence. In that case, law abiding criminals are at a disadvantage against legal, (so far), gun owners. It is just unfair. Banning guns among the general population would give miscreants legal recourse to sue if they were repelled by firearms, if they lived, and a charge of murder being filed against the intended victim, if they did not. What we need here, is common sense, responsible controls on would be victims. If you shoot the SOB, or, SOB-ette, that tries to rob, kill, rape, torture, commit mass murder, does he/she not bleed? Please, a little compassion people. Buy back? Unwanted guns?, BS.

  25. Since the Seattle PD are apparently suffering from an advanced case of “Imastupidassignoranttarditis” we need to have them removed from their job and commited to a mental health care facility until such time that they are reformed enough to be a model gun toting law abiding citizen and no longer desire to be a LEO or political figurehead!!!

  26. A gun is “a time bomb waiting to go off?” WTF. I connected my gun to a timer and nothing happened. Maybe it’s defective, like that cop’s brain. Hey Metz, is that the new SS uniform? Does it come with jodhpurs? Don’t answer. I already know.

  27. These anti 2a arguments are staring to remind me of Joy(less) Behar’s Current TV (read al jazeera) sh0w “Just Say Anything”.

  28. Got my gun out today, listened to it, didn’t hear any ticking. Is it broken? I then put it back in a safe place and it didn’t put up a fight. A very uneventful experience.

  29. Same idiots who buy a dog and leave it outback w/o love of food also buy guns and never use them time to call ASPCA not Brady campaign on them LOL.

  30. “unwanted gun”???

    TTAG should start writing articles entitled “Where was your gun of the day?” . You would have no shortage of instances every week throughout the country where someone should have owned a firearm. Sadly you will have to dig because most of the rapes, homicided, home invasions, severe beatings never make it past the local newspaper and it’s usually not more than a few words or paragraphs.

  31. No, Deputy Chief Metz, that “tick, tick, tick” you hear is the patience of law-abiding gunowners counting down to zero.

    And a question, D.C.; how in Hell can you “buy back” something the city/state NEVER OWNED to begin with?

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