Another RPG off the streets in Seattle
Richard sends us a link to KIRO 7 in Seattle about another police department that was conned into buying back an “RPG” (yes, I know it’s an expended Stinger missile tube – Stingers are for shooting down aircraft) during their gun buyback program. The picture comes from their Facebook page.
Police said if people turn in a handgun, shotgun or a rifle, the exchange will be a $100 gift card from places like Amazon.com. For assault weapons, it would be a $200 gift card.
So you know that the police paid $200 for something someone bought at a surplus store for $25. Yeah, there’s no waiting period or background checks for buying an empty fiberglass tube. You’d think that the police would know that.
According to Seattle police, hundreds of guns were collected but the final count will be released Monday.
The Seattle Police Department said they hope to hold another gun buyback event soon.
So you guys out in Seattle have time to turn your PVC tubing into gold at the next gun buy back.
NOTE: Someone on facebook says it’s a “Redeye” launcher which is older than the Stinger, and he may just be right. But what it’s NOT is an RPG>
Category: Guns
Yeah well they make up their losses buying all those 600-800 dollar handguns and $1, 000+ AR’s for 100-200 bucks a pop
I was going to ask how much the Seattle po-po paid for the tubing, but you answered that one.
I need to send this to my brother-in-law to give him a guffaw, and so that he can notify me of the next buy-back. I’d love to be just around the corner intercepting some of those guns before the po-po does. Just think of the money I’d be saving the Seattle taxpayers (plus other benefits to me). Win-win.
I’m with you B-Woodman!
I think Constitution loving Citizens should institute their own “gun buy back” programs. I’d be willing to add a 10% premium to whatever the NY/LA/Seattle municipalities are paying, with no questions asked, provided the weapons are in working order, and I’d make it cash. $220/ak/ar-15, $110 for Remington 700, or Glock 19!??!
Hell, make it 20% ($240/$120)!
Subjects with rusted hunks of metal and empty fiberglass tubes would still have the option of going to the local PD.
From another article:
“The launch tube assembly for the Stinger is what holds the actual missile and is designed to be disposable after it is fired, as this one clearly was. Officers checked the tube and confirmed that there was no missile inside. However, even an expended launch tube is still a controlled military item. This item is not available to civilians through any surplus or disposal program offered by the government. Items such as this are required to be accounted for until they are ultimately destroyed.”
http://mynorthwest.com/646/2185772/Police-explain-the-missile-launcher-turned-in-during-Seattles-gun-buyback
Hey, maybe this is how the revamped IVAW (“and/or non-Veterans”)is supporting itself!
Looks to me like you could buy some fiberglas tubing, paint it with the proper olive drab green paint, stencil it with some mysterious letters and digits, and for a cost of about $15, get $100 back, with an $85 profit.
Just don’t do it too often, of they’ll get suspicious.
That donut-stuffer sure looks tough with that useless tube.
Shared the laughs on an ADA page I’m on. While not a danger unless you got hit over the head with it, don’t think Stinger or Redeye tubes or trainers are available to the public. One of my ADA friends mentioned the sight and electronics being controlled.
The comments are pretty funny, someone asked if they’d buy back expended casings.
I can’t wait for a gun buy back program in my area. I’ll stand in the parking lot and go shopping. I’d even be prepared to offer $250.
So I’m not the only one thinking a run to the Smith and Edwards followed by a road trip to Washington is looking like a bad idea am I? I’m sure I can scrounge up some dead gear and still turn a profit, hell I can even do my part for the environment and borrow a family member’s hybrid rather than cruising up there in my SUV. It’s for the planet after all.
If all else fails, get a couple of wrapping paper tubes, paint them up and turn them in. They’re close enough right?
Yeah, you know those plastic trigger handles you get at the hardware store, for use with spray paint cans? Those cost less than $1, spray paint is available in all colors, and stencils you can get at any art supply store and use them repeatedly.
@8. That’s funny, beating the buy-back program at its own game.
Believe it or not….a lot of Cops are morons. And a lot of them like to pretend they are high speed or all knowing when it comes to weapons just because they have to shoot one twice a year.
I have an ICBM, under a tarp in my backyard, at my country house. Wonder if I can more than 100 bucks for that. I am going to hold out and see if NYS has a buy back program for RPG’s, STINGER’s, ALUM TUBES, GUN and PICKLE BARRELS, ICBM’s, PORTABLE ELECTRON NUETRALIZERS, and other such items.
Perhaps I should bring in my Q36 Space Modulator. Bet I could get at least $300 for that thing.
Sh!T … my son’s NERF GUN collection …..
@15. Son’s NERF guns, huh? Who bought it for him and who uses it more than he does? Right. I thought so.
@12. They don’t start out that way, you know. They start getting stupid above the rank of sergeant. When they get to Chief or the rank and title equivalent, they start to drool, spout crazy stuff, and come up with really, really stupid ideas.
@ 17 – Sounds like Dupnik.
#14 Martinnc,
For the second time (I had to go after JPJ for the same thing), it’s an Illudium PU236 Space Modulator. How do I know? I’ve got one straight from Marvin him (her? it?) self.
Unless you’re referring to the training module, that’s the Q36 (according to JPJ).
I still have my laser tag gun. Do you think I could get anything for it? And my light saber is languishing away in the coat closet. Might be worth a couple of bucks. I think my short sword might be worth a couple hundred bucks. It technically qualifies as an assault weapon.
Has anyone besides me ever felt like going to one of these things and pulling a ‘Mad Max Thunderdome’ weapons handover on these guys?
@ AirCav … you got me … it is MY collection!
About 10 years ago I bought an airsoft MP-5 to go with a Halloween costume. What do you think I could get for it?
B. Woodman-so you’re “that earth creature (who) has taken it”?
Delays, delays.
Confession is good for the soul. I bought a Chicago typewriter with a drum magazine and a stick. Hey, it’s a 1:1 ration and looks real!
Ration? Shoot the n. Thanks.
Ripping off the police — priceless.
#24 68W58
In the confession business, yes, it was I. That’s the only reason we still have a planet Earth under our feet to stand on and fight over.
Why in the heck would anyone do a buyback for $200 for an “assault weapon” when most of them are currently selling for thousands, if you can find them?
#20 I’m wondering if my Bodkin Arrows are going to have to be turned in, can’t have armor piercing ammunition and all.
#29 A better question is, how many of them being turned in were used in a crime? Other than that, desperation, stupidity, family pressure and a lack of a spine?
On a separate note, since I recently had to research it again to show a coworker that crossbows are still dangerous, does anyone know where I can find a replica Big Joe crossbow or am I going to have to make one?
I’m right – that’s a redeye (was me on FB). Former MOS is my username here. After active duty, I was in the WA Army National Guard – HHC 81st IN Bde,HQ’d in Seattle, we had a Stinger Platoon – back in a storage room we had dozens of empty Redeye tubes; had been there since anyone remembered. I was in that platoon for two years. Stingers do not have the LONG wide un-cage button (see the black rubber button?). Stingers have a smaller one, towards the front end of the grip stock. Stingers have a shorter fatter battery, too.
🙂
Doesn’t specifically matter – the point is Seattle elects and is run by nincompoops.
PS – the sights on those things are just plastic rings and marker pieces. No electronics. I’d seen a night-site for a Stinger; however the only electronics were in the firing mechanism, and un-caging features; but nothing with regard to the actual missile operation.