Gun Buyback Program In Oregon Becomes Profit-Making Event For Gun Owners

Jonah Hicap Sunday, January 25, 2015

Some of the 138 firearms turned in by volunteers. | NEWPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT

A volunteer gun turn-in event in Newport, Oregon, netted 138 firearms for the police department, but it also became profitable for gun enthusiasts.

According to the Newport Police Department, the one-day "no questions asked" event saw citizens bring unwanted firearms consisting of 67 revolvers, 35 semi-auto pistols, 18 shotguns and 18 rifles and 95 high-capacity magazines and ammunition.

Fred Meyer gift cards were handed over in exchange for the firearms: $175 for assault or assault-like rifle; $125 for handguns; $75 for long guns, such as rifles or shotguns; $25 for high-capacity magazine; and $5 Arctic Circle gift card for pellet or BB guns.

The police said serial numbers on the firearms will be checked against state and federal data bases.

Stolen firearms will be sent to the police agency that reported that the weapon was stolen.

All firearms, ammunition and magazines that passed serial checks will be sent to a burn plant in Brooks, Oregon for destruction.

The Newport Police Department will donate unique or antique weapons to an appropriate historical museum.

Some gun enthusiasts apparently made a profit. A member of the OpenCarry.Org website said his friend got $900 worth of gift cards from the event for the "junkers" he turned in.

"A friend turned in junkers that he paid a total of $240 for....and pulled $900 of their $6,000 worth of gift cards. I pulled another $250 myself for a $50 'investment.' So just two of us took away 20 percent of their cards.....and they got garbage," the member wrote on the forum section.

He added, "There were a lot of patriots turning in garbage. And this time they screwed up and paid $25 for a 30 round mag.....they paid for 95 mags...... That's another $2,375 of their funding GONE (to buy garbage mags) and mags that can be bought brand new for substantially less than $25."

A blogger on the website The Truth About Guns said he will use the $375 in gift cards that he will get to buy ammunition or a "subcompact carry piece."

"So I had a nice drive to the coast, spent about $25 in diesel, and in a couple weeks should have $375.00 in gift cards that I will turn into either ammo, or a subcompact carry piece of a more modern and reliable nature. Or maybe a new scope. Hmmmm," he wrote.