Despite the fact that so-called gun “buybacks” have been proven to be ineffective in reducing violent crime, legislators in New Jersey seem intent on wasting taxpayers' money on just such a scheme.
A measure that would create a statewide gun “buyback” program was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday, with sponsors claiming the law would curb “gun violence.”
In reality, voluntary gun turn-ins are a classic case of gun-control symbolism. While advocates claim they are “taking guns off our streets,” in many cases the guns collected are so ancient or decrepit as to be nearly, if not completely, nonfunctional. In other cases, the guns are not coming off “the street” but from law-abiding owners where such firearms pose no risk to public safety whatsoever. Even an advisor to the Obama administration at the National Institute of Justice said such efforts “cannot be effective” unless “massive” in scope “and coupled with a ban” on the same sort of arms as are being collected.
