Assault Weapon: $250
Handguns: $200
Rifles: $150
All in gift cards that can be used at approved places selected by the government.
I mean, I guess it makes sense that the government doesn't want to buy back the guns in cash just to have people go buy more guns; but, these programs make no logical or economic sense.
Who is going to turn in an "assault weapon" worth North of a $1,000 for $250? I just spent $300 on a handgun which is considered to be a cheap revolver. Are they expecting me to think, "Oh, cool, I'll just trade in my gun for a $100 loss."? I could probably get about $700 for my rifle.
Yeah, there are people who will turn in guns. They're probably people with a surplus of guns with one or two lying around that they never use anymore or don't work. As an aside, the $25 for a nonfunctioning gun is fucking hilarious; I mean, it's not like they're going to be testing the guns on site.
Other people who would turn in guns are people who inherited them from someone else who aren't interested in firearms and...I don't know...maybe a few people who stole a gun and figured he could make a quick, easy buck.
I can say with absolute certainty that the only way that I would show up to a gun buyback would be if they would give me cash above market value for my gun so I could buy another, better gun. It seems that that would be the opposite of the intent of the program.
I can say with near certainty that the people who listen to this and think that it's a good idea can't imagine why anyone would want to have a gun but for the intent to cause harm to people with it.
I can also say with near certainty that the people who do have access to guns and do intend to cause harm aren't going to turn in the guns for an Amazon gift card.