Detroit Area Activists Turn Firearm Buy-Back Into Gun Show

Detroit Area Gun Rights Advocates Turn A Gun Buy-Back Into A Gun Show!

Detroit Area Activists Turn Firearm Buy-Back Into Gun Show
Detroit Area Activists Turn Firearm Buy-Back Into Gun Show
Legally Armed In Detroit
Legally Armed In Detroit

Detroit, Michigan – -(Ammoland.com)- This past Saturday, November 9th, 2013, approximately 20 Detroit area gun rights activists attended a local event officially billed as a “massive gun buy-back initiative” to stage a demonstration of their own against the city of Highland Park’s (MI) government.

Less than a week before the event, Highland Park Police Chief Kevin Coney was mentioned in a press release in which it was stated that he was going to announce a gun buy-back seeking to entice local citizens into surrendering their guns on a “no questions asked” basis.

Program participants were promised to be rewarded with $50 cash for any working handgun and would be given $100 cash for any working long gun – rifle or shotgun. The press release also included the following quote from that city’s mayor – Andre Windom – who was quoted as saying, “I applaud the efforts of our police department in proactively taking necessary measures to get guns off the street and to promote safety in our community.”

Local Detroit gun rights activists, however, know the truth about these “dog-and-pony-show” program ran by local governments all across our country:

  • They have never been proven to have any positive effect on violent crime rates.
  • They encourage firearm thefts because no questions will be asked.
  • They potentially lead to the destruction of evidence used in crimes.
  • They lead to the destruction of personal property of the rightful owners.
  • They consume public resources that could be used to fight crime.
  • They exploit the poor by offering $50 for potentially valuable hardware.
  • They mislead the public by creating only a “feel good” fluff story in the media.

Accordingly, Detroit area gun rights activists set up for business on the site of the event  – the Highland Park Fire Station. Activists made sure that they were equipped to comply with current state law by having either a Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL) or a Michigan Pistol Purchase Permits and Michigan Pistol Sales Record Forms. In Michigan, private handgun transfers require purchase permits and registration.

The protest started slowly but had an unpredictable result:

The event was scheduled to start at 8am but the city did not open their doors to the public until 8:30am. At that time there were only 7 people in line.

Participation to the event was relatively light early in the day and picked up as it got later. After an estimated 24 firearm purchases, the city of Highland Park ran out of money shortly after noon. The event was scheduled to last until 4:00p.m. Apparently, they did not have a big enough budget for this event. They hung up a sign and closed up for the day.

However, the gun rights activists were still making offers to willing buyers and making purchases. The gun buy-back had turned into a gun show. By the time the activists stopped buying guns, they recorded a combined purchase count of 31 firearms.

WWII Army Issued Remington-Rand 1911
WWII Army Issued Remington-Rand 1911

The protest did not transpire without its share of issues. For example, there was initially a dispute as to whether the activists could legally setup shop on public property.

In addition, the police department sent an officer over to the owner of a nearby lot – a neighborhood pharmacy – to see if they could have the activists cars ejected. Furthermore, the Chief of Police himself came out and threatened the activists with tickets for “Solicitation” for buying guns on the Fire Department’s premises while their own operation was shuttered for lack of funds.

At the end of the day, local gun rights advocates bested a local police department by turning their own gun buy-back event into a gun show. In addition, some guns were saved from the scrap heap and will have new home in which they will be greatly appreciated.

About The Author

Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Class training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit.

Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, NRAnews, Gun Digest, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, The Detroit News, WJLB, WGPR and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

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TxTruth

“Ah come on man, the cops just want to keep you safe because you know, there is a Bin Laden under your bed who is going to get you”.

Bunch of slave minded people in America these days.

OIF Vet @ USC

Fantastic coup by a dynamic and freedom loving group of American citizens who understand our constitutional republic. Gun control is dying fast and will be left to rot where it falls. Detroit is one of the last desperate holdouts of worthless gun control in America. Congratulations on saving the World War II .45 M-1911A1 from the metal scrapper. Nice government issue shoulder holster too.

Bill

Even if the police stop you from buying guns from these type of events you should be able to make offers and have the people leave and then make the sale else where. At least gun owners should go to these buy backs and inform the sellers/people of the real value of their firearms. I hate hearing about some old woman that needs money for bills only to hear she sold a gun worth thousands for just a few dollars Then suggest they sell them through a local dealer if a sale can not be made at that time. If… Read more »

Seth Blathstein USA

Wow a genuine Remington Rand with what appears to be the matching holster it was issued with!
God bless you guys for rescuing that beautiful hunk of History.
Wish i was there.

Blew That One!

That was a major screw up for the police who, want more crime in the city! More crime means bigger budgets. You CANNOT get bigger budgets IF, citizens can protect themselves and be doing the work of the police!

It’s like being able to do your own car repairs…what would you need a “trained” mechanic for if you can repair the car yourself?

Get It Right

“Serve and Protect”…doesn’t mean in the Public’s interest. The Public is reading into the phrase too much. The phrase actually means, “Serve the bankers and Protect their assets.”

Actually, I’m not trying to be funny….its true.

Rev. Joel+

Nice save on the 1911. It would have tragic for that to end up in a melt furnace.

Gregory Romeu

Had the police focused in joining https://oathkeepers.org or https://cspoa.org, they wouldn’t have been all that concerned about a gun by-back.

todd

“for “Solicitation” for buying guns on the Fire Department’s premises”

Isn’t a fire department’s premises public property?

N8

I have done this a few times in California. Always a hoot.

KatrinaAnon

Is that pistol one of the ones that was purchased at the gun buy back?

Brian

I hope it was. That is a piece of history that is worth far more than $50. Average value on that $2000 easy.

james

Job well done, show them we will not stand by and watch citizens get taken by those who are sworn to protect and serve, along with the mayor.

John

The politicians who destroyed the “Motor City” have bigger problems than “guns on the street”. Once again they follow the “playbook” and try to scapegoat gun owners for Detroit’s violence.

TSgt B

COPYCATS! I’ve done this many times in the past. Picked up a few nice firearms, and REALLY pissed off the “powers that be”.

The mayor AND police chief need to lose their jobs.

Good job, Brothers in Arms!

vom brunhaus

Beware that those who carry a name like Mayor “ANDRE”, my bet hes not a Frenchie!