Houston Gun Turn in Nets 800, Includes Box Full of 3D Printed Pistols

3D Printed Gun Frames
3D Printed Gun Frames

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)-– On July 30, 2022, Houston, Texas, organized a gun “buyback” event. It was the first such event held in Houston.  “Buyback” is an Orwellian term because the guns were never owned by the government, so it cannot “buy” them “back.” More appropriately, it was a gun turn-in event.

According to people on Twitter, at least sixty-two 3D-printed pistols were turned in at $150 each. That would be a total of $9,300 for the box of mostly plastic pistols.  The 3D-printed pistols are “ghost guns” because they do not have a government-approved serial number on them.

Mayor Turner confirmed that “ghost guns” were taken in at the event. From abc13.com:

“I’ve heard it all. ‘Oh it’s just going to be junk guns, this and that.’ You
don’t have a solution to problems, please just sit down and let us step
up, the people who are going to do the work,” Finner said.

“We’ve taken in ghost guns. We’ve taken in rifles. Automatics have been taken in, and so the program is working,” Turner said.

The rules, as published by the Houston government, were fairly clear. The turn-in was “no questions asked”. There was no limit on how many guns could be turned in. There were no limits on how much one person could receive. From houstontx.gov:

The prices offered at the event were fairly low:

Filament for making simple 3D printed pistols is much less. Some estimated less than $5 worth of materials were used for the 3D printed pistols turned in.

Materials: $300. Labor: unknown. Return: $9,300. Message sent: priceless

Other entrepreneurs and or activists were not so fortunate. On Reddit, it was reported some attempted to turn in lower receivers but were turned down by Dallas police.

On Reddit, a poster claimed Houston PD would not take lower receivers because they were not guns:

@GhostGcom: “Took a roadtrip to Houston for their gun “buyback.” Turns out our printed/milled lowers are too spooky. They wouldn’t take them because “they aren’t firearms.” No shit. Proof the new ATF ruling is absolute bullshit.”

The claim seems plausible.  A poster on AR15.com said a group brought 40 3D printed lowers and were 10 cars ahead of him.

The line for the event has been reported to stretch for two miles. People waited for hours to move ahead. Some people gave up. The event ran out of gift cards after three hours. It was an ideal time for private buyers to move up and down the line, looking for bargains.  From khou.com:

“There were some people going up and down the lines saying we will pay you more than the city and the county are willing to pay you, with no background checks, and mind you, it’s not necessarily illegal and that’s a loophole in the process,” he said.  

The setback couldn’t overshadow the program’s success.

Why would responsible private buyers be a “setback”? They serve to stretch the money available to the program, taking valuable guns off the street. The owners who do not want them get more money than they would have gotten from the government. It sounds like a win-win for all concerned.

Funding was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. From houstontx.gov:

In partnership with the Houston Police Department, officers will conduct a Gun Buy Back Operation in the parking lot of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Depending on the type of weapon, citizens turning in
firearms will be rewarded with a gift card in the amounts from $50.00 to $200.00. All firearms will be retrieved with a no-question-asked policy by law enforcement. Funding for this program was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The ARPA of 2021 was an authorization of 1.6 trillion dollars by the Democrats and Biden administration.

At least $100,000 was expended at the event.  Mayor Turner says they will be organizing an even bigger one soon.

Mayor Turner said for the next buyback event, they will double their resources.

Second Amendment supporters are likely to be prepared for the next event.


About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

Dean Weingarten

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uncle dudley

Whoever was in charge of this doesn’t have any idea about guns, offering $200 for an automatic rifle..huh..
They don’t sell automatic rifles at your local gun shop just semi-automatic’s.
Why don’t these gun haters pressure the elected officials to enforce the laws on the books and make our prisons full of law breakers by getting them off the streets.

john

Still do not see any guns only parts

How do you buy back something you did not sell in the first place.
Whose money?
The America rescue plan say it ain’t so Joe.

American taxpayer dollars.

They should dock every member of congress’s salary that signed that bill.

Bill

ATF considers certain particular parts to be actual guns, if manufactured beyond a certain point. For the people running the program, they may not even know what is or isn’t classified as an actual gun.

gregs

what twisted logic in these “buyback” programs. they don’t buy back anything. they don’t take dangerous weapons off the streets or help protect the community. they don’t prevent bad people from getting weapons.
nothing they say about these programs is true.

Bubba

One thing is true, $300 worth of material netted $9300 cash. I think we all should start doing this from now on.

Lesko Brandon

Is this anonymous? They mention “resident” which to me says ID verification. I mean its not like voting where asking for ID would be racist. They could certainly ask for ID to verify your status. While I see a chance to make a few dollars (turn in your old prototype 3D test prints for $50), if they are recording driver’s licenses or certainly license plates they may also be creating a nice list of individuals for the ATF to know who is using 3D printers to make firearms. Maybe I am just a conspiracy nut, but I would not trust… Read more »

Bubba

You are so correct. Anyone who thinks they were not photographed by cameras and face recognition software is nuts.
This is where really good quality Movie makeup would be fantastic.

PMinFl

“No questions asked” is a great way to get rid of a gun used in a crime.

james

….And not ONE SINGLE FIREARM was ‘Taken off the streets’.

hippybiker

There must have been Tootsie Pops running this thing! Or, maybe the all day variety!

Bill

A mayor boasts about his tax-paying citizens being fleeced in this way? And then a lot of people no doubt watch this sorry political smoke job and agree with it. Are there two brain cells to rub together in this country any more? Meanwhile, total kudos to the one who showed the buyback program as the typical leftist wimp program that it is. Leftists love weakness, even in themselves, but they win when they convince others to be the same sorry way.

james

Too bad they did not offer a premium for the ‘thing that goes on the top’.

Finnky

Minor blip in article. At one point you reference Dallas PD and then switch back to Houston. Two different cities, quite a ways apart.

swmft

na they are close by….it is texas….how many hours with your foot turning blue on gas pedal ….like driving up florida only in every direction

Russn8r

Both high-density S-holes run by DemComs

swmft

they are now…

Russn8r

Now’s what counts. But…TEXAS…Like a whole other country! TEXAS Republican Hobbits think they’re safe in the Shire. That’s why we’re stuck with RINOs like Cornyn, Abbott, Phelan & Crenshaw.

Ex(?)-cop Abbott-apologist OpeTEX downvoted 5 times immediately.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
swmft

demoncrats are killing Vermont too was verrrrrry conservative now the progressives are trying to chase out the farmers …cows pollute too much

Glocktarded

You are not wrong my friend, I am so pissed off at Cornyn, if he doesn’t get primaried I am seriously debating voting against him just to get him out of office. At this point, there just isn’t enough difference between him and a Dem to really matter.

Bubba

Cornyn is done. They censured him today. Either he’ll resign or he will not make a reelection. He’s a piece of shit. An embarrassment to Texas.

Russn8r

Who censured The Texas Cornhole?

Sadly, the prick has until 2026, which is why he led the betrayal. Today’s Limerick:

The traitor du jure John Cornyn
Leads betrayals for which he is chosen
Having 4 years to go
And since DemComs all know
He likes his tube steak with the bone in!

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

Harrison County GOP. “Harrison County GOP Chairman Lee Lester told The Texas Horn that ‘the people of Texas elected [Cornyn] to represent their beliefs in Washington. When he goes against what he was sent to do, what do you do? An employer that has an employee that does the opposite of what their job description is would not be tolerated. Cornyn was hired by Republicans in Texas–not the Democrats–to represent our interest.'” https://thetexashorn.com/2022/07/07/breaking-harrison-county-gop-censures-senator-john-cornyn/ People keep expressing surprise. Cornyn told TEXANS, well before the primary, that he supported yet more gun control. https://www.c-span.org/video/?441884-1/president-trump-calls-comprehensive-gun-bill Cornyn has also co-sponsored a bill (S. 675)… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by JSNMGC
Russn8r

But…But…
“TEXAS! Like a whole other country!”
-OpeTEX

LOL

swmft

before government controlled speed limits sections of roads in western states were posted as fast as safe , and many were just not regulated .. i drove from Shreveport la. to white sands in just over 10 hours got to be a “witness” for a test ….young and stupid pre steal belted radials dynaglass tigerpaws redline 1964 corvette fuelie powerglide and an 8track

swmft

car I should have kept 1968 grandprix sj 428 4speed ttops forest green metallic ..9 second quarter miles with ac on that was a ride corvette was fun but not fun on a trip

swmft

327 with Rochester fuel infection 427 was 67 there was some 63s withe disc brakes and 427 but they were factory race cars think designation was gs had a friend who got one of the sebring cars in early 70s for 500 still has it worth over a million

swmft

the mother of a soldier that did not come back sold it to him , one I whish I kept 1965 maserati gt5000 bought it not running (was stuck in reverse and third) took two hours to fix thought speedo was in kilometers it went to 250 redline of 12,000 rpm 5speed shift points were crazy 1-2 was around 70 one in trash condition sold for 533,000 had some crazy toys

swmft

guess dea was right job I drove flash liked flash cloths ,and flash guns saw too many ods to ever try drugs real sad shit some of the worst still play in my head like a bad movie funny the people i killed does not haunt me the ones I could not save does….go figure

Watch um

Army buddy in Germany had a 1963 Impala with the 427 engine. It was fast, driving the autobon. It was a special order Chevrolet

Bubba

I miss my 68 Camero with a an LS3 and A Whipple.
Best car I ever owned.

Liston Matthews

I see that Durham is planning a ‘buyback’ this Saturday, August 6:
https://www.wral.com/durham-giving-out-visa-gift-cards-for-handguns-and-rifles-on-saturday/20401717/

LOCAL NEWS
Durham giving out Visa gift cards for handguns and rifles on SaturdayTags: gun controlDurham County Sheriff’s Office
Posted August 3, 2022 11:54 a.m. EDT

OPPORTUNITY!