# NRA to Sue Arizona over Destroying Buyback Guns **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 9, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623 "2013-01-09T13:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/161 "2013-01-09T23:43:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > But since they were bought and not confiscated or turned in, then the NRA really shouldn’t care what is done with them, right? What do you think they should do with the M1 Garands they get? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/162 "2013-01-09T23:50:58Z")
Ok, they _could_ go to the effort. Why should they? If the government gave what the sellers considered fair prices for their automobiles, who gives a rat’s ass what other people think? Remember “Cash for Clunkers”? That’s exactly what happened. Cars that otherwise functioned were scrapped. It’s called a double-standard. Look it up. And you keep ignoring that point. Whether or not the guv’mint could sell the guns for some money, it doesn’t have to once the seller gives up title. And if the guns were illegally owned or modified, all the better. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/163 "2013-01-09T23:51:17Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > What do you think they should do with the M1 Garands they get? ??Whatever they want to, since _they_ would be the owners. Is there something about this conversation you aren’t comprehending? Do you understand what is being discussed in this thread, or is your desire to pull some sort of off-topic “gotcha” on me becoming a problem you just can’t keep in check any more? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/164 "2013-01-09T23:54:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > ??Whatever they want to, since _they_ would be the owners. Is there something about this conversation you aren’t comprehending? Do you understand what is being discussed in this thread, or is your desire to pull some sort of off-topic “gotcha” on me becoming a problem you just can’t keep in check any more? I just want to know if you think it’s better that they be available for purchase to law abiding citizens or better off melted down. Just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/165 "2013-01-09T23:56:13Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I can think of 2 arguments: > > First, the NRA may feel that it’s a better use of public resources for the authorities to re-sell the guns to responsible owners. However the police think it is a better use of resources to destroy the guns. There are two arguments for this. First, while you talk of responsible owners, the actual purchasers would surely be gun dealers. How then would you ensure responsible owners get them without all the restrictions the NRA opposes today. Even if a small number of the guns are used for crime, especially homicide, the cost to the taxpayer for the investigation would far exceed that earned by selling the guns. > [@](#): > > Second, the NRA may be worried about the slippery slope. The next step might be to use public funds to purchase the guns. Then to offer more and more carrots and sticks to ban guns through the back door. Now that’s just absurd. The only way this would remotely resemble banning guns would be if the police bought up all the guns in gun stores and all incoming shipments also. If they would truly believe this, they are truly psychotic. Not that I doubt you… > [@](#): > > By analogy, imagine if the local police department started handing out $100 gift cards to girls who went through with their pregnancies instead of having abortions. Even if the gift cards were privately donated, Planned Parenthood would understandably be concerned about the precedent of the government getting involved in discouraging abortions. Oh, gee, the government never gets involved discouraging abortions. Does “vaginal probe” ring a bell? Waiting periods? Forced viewing of cute fetus pictures. If the right wingers stopped trying to suppress abortion rights in these ways and instead offered $100, Planned Parenthood might stand up and applaud. Hint - babies cost a lot more than $100 to raise. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/166 "2013-01-09T23:56:52Z")
Law abiding citizens. Like Nancy Lanza. I bet \*that \*will never happen again, huh? Once in a lifetime shit, that was. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/167 "2013-01-09T23:59:52Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I just want to know if you think it’s better that they be available for purchase to law abiding citizens or better off melted down. Just asking. Are not the police, or the people actually running this program, law abiding citizens? If the NRA would have no problem with what is done with the weapons once they are purchased, then they should have no problem with this _buy_back program. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/168 "2013-01-10T00:02:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are not the police, or the people actually running this program, law abiding citizens? If the NRA would have no problem with what is done with the weapons once they are purchased, then they should have no problem with this _buy_back program. Do you think the country would be better off if the CMP melted down all their Garands? ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/169 "2013-01-10T00:04:05Z")
Do we have any reason to believe that actual M1 Garands or other quality arms are involved in that particular buyout program? I mean really, a $20 chit for a functioning rifle with a market value exceeding several hundred dollars? How many addled or otherwise unknowing grannies are finding these in their attics and turning them in for pocket change? This is a red herring. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/170 "2013-01-10T00:05:35Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Do you think the country would be better off if the CMP melted down all their Garands? I think the country is better off when the owner of a gun can decide whether or not to melt it down. In this case, the owner is the PD. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/171 "2013-01-10T00:08:57Z")
And just to make sure **Kable** saw that post, it’s not just guns. “Cash for Clunkers”, no matter how you felt about the program itself, was the same deal. You get cash (tax dollars in this case) - car gets scrapped. > [@CannyDan](#): > > Do we have any reason to believe that actual M1 Garands or other quality arms are involved in that particular buyout program? Nope. As you note, it’s a red herring that **Kable** has latched onto. Not even a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/172 "2013-01-10T00:09:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I think the country is better off when the owner of a gun can decide whether or not to melt it down. In this case, the owner is the PD. If the police are doing it on their own time with their own money I would agree. If the department is using taxpayer funds government is answerable to the people. A lot of Arizonan’s in particular won’t like it, so they’re suing. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/173 "2013-01-10T00:14:24Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > “Cash for Clunkers”, no matter how you felt about the program itself, was the same deal. You get cash (tax dollars in this case) - car gets scrapped. Some clunkers are worth more as scrap. Auctions would decide if the guns are. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/174 "2013-01-10T00:16:19Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > As I read this article, the NRA is planning on suing if the program violates the law and if not, trying to get the law changed. > > Along the lines of my last post, let me propose an analogy: > > Suppose the local police department parked a car in front of the local abortion clinic and had an officer hand out privately donated gift cards to girls who decided not to get abortions. > > Suppose that Planned Parenthood announced that it was going file a lawsuit to stop this practice if it violates the law, and if it does not violate the law, try to get the law changed. > > Would you have a problem with Planned Parenthood’s conduct? > > And if not, how would such a situation be fundamentally any different from the situation with the NRA? In your example, is Planned Parenthood going around forcing everyone to have abortions and attacking those who don’t have one as unAmerican? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/175 "2013-01-10T00:21:57Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Some clunkers are worth more as scrap. Auctions would decide if the guns are. Is that what happened under the Cash for Klunkers program? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/176 "2013-01-10T00:29:12Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Is that what happened under the Cash for Klunkers program? I couldn’t tell you. A brief wiki search leads be to believe cash for clunkers in general cost more than it’s utility. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/177 "2013-01-10T00:39:54Z")
Reading more about the 2009 Car Allowance Rebate System, I’m against that too. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/178 "2013-01-10T00:47:21Z")
Could they offer to buy half the gun and then grab a hacksaw? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/179 "2013-01-10T00:54:24Z")
I find it hilarious that such passion and emotion is being spent in a lawsuit to make sure those precious, precious guns aren’t melted down, but sold back out to all those responsible, law-abiding gun-enthusiasts so that those inviolate, \*GOD-GIVEN \*weapons can serve the purposes that they were RIGHTFULLY intended by Yahweh himself! … the right to bear those beautiful arms, to protect our families, our _HEARTHS_, our _HOMES_, and to spill the blood of \*\*TYRANTS \*\*if necessary!!! … when in every other argument about guns it’s made plain that they’re just simple tools. Inanimate objects, when you get right down to it. So … why do you give a fuck that the cops are getting rid of a few inanimate objects? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623/180 "2013-01-10T00:58:29Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I find it hilarious that such passion and emotion is being spent in a lawsuit to make sure those precious, precious guns aren’t melted down, but sold back out to all those responsible, law-abiding gun-enthusiasts so that those inviolate, \*GOD-GIVEN \*weapons can serve the purposes that they were RIGHTFULLY intended by Yahweh himself! … the right to bear those beautiful arms, to protect our families, our _HEARTHS_, our _HOMES_, and to spill the blood of \*\*TYRANTS \*\*if necessary!!! … when in every other argument about guns it’s made plain that they’re just simple tools. Inanimate objects, when you get right down to it. > > So … why do you give a fuck that the cops are getting rid of a few inanimate objects? Some people identify closely with tools? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-to-sue-arizona-over-destroying-buyback-guns/646623.md?page=10)