Chicago gun turn-in yields 5,500 firearms

Just some of the more than 5,500 firearms turned in to the Chicago Police Saturday, June 23, 2012, as part of a drive to get guns off the streets. The weapons were exchanged for gift cards ranging in value from $10 to $100. / WBBM

(CBS News) CHICAGO - Chicago police collected firearms numbering more than 5,500 and counting on Saturday, from a gun turn-in program designed to take dangerous weapons off the street.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said the tally could go considerably higher, reports CBS Station WBBM.

Pallets were still being unloaded at a Homan Square facility where the weapons were being sorted.

"I'm quite certain that if you look at some of these heavy weapons, we certainly are making a difference here, just by getting these guns off the street," McCarthy said at a news conference to show off some of the weapons.

The firearms ranged from an M-60 machine gun and sawed-off shotguns to pen-like "zip" guns that can fire a lethal round.

Of the more than 5,500 weapons, about 700 turned out to be BB-guns or replicas, McCarthy said.

During the gun turn-in Saturday, dubbed "Don't Kill a Dream, Save a Life," Chicagoans could turn in firearms, no questions asked, at churches to get $100 gift cards for each firearm.

BB-guns and replicas were worth $10 cards.

Some locations ran out of gift cards, and had to give people IOUs.

This year's gun turn-in appeared to be one of the more successful. By comparison, the tally in 2010 was 3,900 weapons, including 600 BB-guns or replicas.

Critics say the firearms police collect through the turn-in event by and large aren't the most dangerous kinds, and may even be decades old and non-functioning.

But McCarthy says any gun is welcome.

All weapons collected Saturday will be destroyed.

The collection comes as Chicago is drawing attention for gun-related violence. More than a dozen people were wounded this weekend, and a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot Friday night.

[LogicalLiberal]

Evidently the M60 assault rifle is worth $30,000.... Brilliant trade! Hopefully the organizers of the event can sell it and use the profits for something that will reduce the terrible violence taking place in Chicago on a daily basis.

http://www.guns.com/2012/08/23/m60-used-in-walker-texas-ranger-for-sale-only-30000/

[ArisuPandora]

While these milquetoast preachers are preparing their sermonettes, they should read what the Lord Jesus said: "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36) Of course, the Roman sword was the First Century equivalent to a Twenty-First Century handgun: it was the weapon of choice for personal, close quarter combat. In today's parlance, Jesus said if you don't have the money, sell your clothes if you have to, and buy a GUN! That's a far cry from churches in Chicago asking people to give up their guns, isn't it?

[FoolKiller]

They really dance around saying whether or not the M-60 was live or an inert replica. Obviously they want to lead with it and leave you with the impression that it was real.

[phwtb100]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[NB62]

If the founding fathers could return and see what has happen in persent day America they go back to 1787 and repeal the
2nd admendment

[Lerianis4]

The Founding Fathers would still say, as I do as an extreme liberal, that the Second Amendment is very necessary to keep our government from overstepping it's bounds and to protect people from the depredations of other people.

[disinterested-3rd-party]

Next, they should have a collection day for sharp objects, blunt objects, kitchen knives, regular pocket knives, bats, clubs, and garden hoes. Our government is out of control.

[CupHeater]

Many of the guns came from the police evidence locker ? Several times ?

Was the M60 a complete M60, or was it a bunch of M60 parts ?

[CupHeater]

Australia has plenty of violent crime. It also has thousands of police who now dictate to everyone how to live their lives.

But both Australia and the U.S. have become police states.

[NB62]

The last time I checked this was a democracy.Really sad that just because there are less guns now on the steet,you think we are
less safer

[BothPartiesBite]

NB62- Well then you must have NEVER checked because as long as anyone has been alive we are a Republic. Perhaps now would be a good time for you to "check" for the 1st time!

[realisticfromthemiddle]

It's a sure bet that the criminals were NOT turning in their guns. This event is a sham that will not reduce the crime rate one bit. Until the people of Chicago can change the culture, the mindset of criminals will not change and gun violence (in a city where guns are illegal) will continue as it has.

[rheola-2009]

If guns do not kill people explain the following,

America has 16 times the population of Australia.

America has 370 times the gun deaths of Australia.

America has the N.R.A.

Australia has gun control laws.

When the gun control laws were introduced in Australia, the gun death rate fell massively, the number of guns in circulation fell massively, the number of people increased by natural means, and migration.

Therefore, less guns, more people, less deaths by gun

SO GUNS DO KILL.

[BothPartiesBite]

rheola-2009 - What other things does Australia lack that we have a lot of here in the USA? Could it be a large violent scetion of society that is blowing the numbers up on us here in the US? What if we removed all the gun crimes committed by blacks and hispanics? I think the numbers will prove out it is not the gun but the individual that is to blame. Unless you can refute the fact that for instance the city I live in in ranked one of the most dangerous in the country. We have a 50% black population that commits 90% of all violent crime. This is not conjecture or hearsey this is a fact. I would contend there are more guns in Afghanistan on our soldiers of all sorts than Chicago yet even fighting a WAR they still haven't managed to kill as many people as they have so far in Chicago this year. For this you blame the gun? If not for the gun you probably wouldn't be free to spew your non-sense you do realize this right? Probably not as your logic string seems to end where it begins, noplace.

[UForgotPoland]

I want that M60!