Azcentral.com reports that today’s the day that the city will pay its criminals $50 gift cards for each and any stolen gun they turn into the authorities. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would take one look at his program and wonder if it’s creating a market for stolen firearms; providing criminals with a financial incentive to break into gun shops and private homes. Now, you could argue that a stolen gun would be worth more on the street, so no. But then you have to wonder about the quality of the guns in question, and consider the fact that the police are doing the fencing. The “no questions asked” part of the program eliminates the normal downside of selling a stolen gun: getting arrested and jailed for an illegal transaction. In other words, it’s like the difference between pre-tax and tax-free dollars, only the “tax” in question is anal rape, lousy food and the threat of constant violence (as well as rape). As I’ve said before (with less irony), the bottom line is the bottom line. And in LA, they’re paying a lot more per “donated” firearm . . .
