5,500 "Weapons"

Once again, the Department doesn't differentiate between actual firearms and lookalikes anywhere in the article:

• The gun was one of more than 5,500 weapons — including several large, military-grade machine guns — replicas and BB guns turned in at the city’s annual gun buy-back program. Those handing over working weapons were given a $100 MasterCard gift card, while those who brought in replica or BB guns received $10 gift cards.

  There were so many firearms turned in that police ran out of gift cards and said some people would have to come back next week to collect.

  While officials were pleased with the number of weapons turned in, the total didn’t surpass 2007, when a record-breaking 6,700 guns were brought in to nearly two dozen churches.

So shootings and murders are up, but less guns are being turned in? Hmmmm.

Quite a few old, rusted, dangerous and non-functional firearms were turned in. Many had only the potential to be bludgeons.

And while we appreciate that people uncomfortable with guns feel the need to turn them in for a quick $100, a safety course could alleviate a lot of that awkwardness around weapons and maintain the security of a household that a gun provides.