this is something new for my area

[sparrow803]

WATERLOO, Iowa - Local residents will have a chance to put some gas in their tanks by turning in their guns.

The Waterloo Police Department, in cooperation with Jim Lind Shell Service Station, is hosting its first "Gas for Guns" event on June 11.

People can trade functioning firearms for gift card to the Jim Lind Shell. A rifle or shotgun is worth $100, and a handgun is worth $150.

There is a limit of two weapons per person.

Guns can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot to the south of Waterloo Fire Station No. 1, at the corner of Mulberry and East Third streets.

Waterloo police officers will facilitate the event, but firearms will be received on a "no questions asked" basis. This program is designed to allow residents to dispose of firearms without fear of charges, police said.

All guns, muzzle-loaders, air-guns and ammunition will be accepted. But only functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns are eligible for the gift card exchange.

Jim Lind Shell donated $5,000 to be used for this program. The event will take place until 2 p.m. or until the gift cards run out.

Residents who drive in are asked to have the weapon in a trunk or, in the case of trucks, sealed in a container.

They should open the trunk in the presence of the officer and allow the officer to remove the gun and any ammunition.

The resident will get a numbered ticket and should remain with the vehicle until an officer returns with a gift card.

People arriving on foot are also asked to being guns a sealed containers. They will wait in a designated area until an officer returns with a gift card.

[retdetsgt]

I'm sure all the crooks will be lined up to turn theirs in......

[sparrow803]

I'm sure all the crooks will be lined up to turn theirs in......

Yeah, kinda doubt it. However, there will now be fewer for the crooks to take when they rob the houses of the law abiding citizens that DO turn them in.

[marinepilot]

Yeah, kinda doubt it. However, there will now be fewer for the crooks to take when they rob the houses of the law abiding citizens that DO turn them in.

And there will also be many fewer law abiding citizens that can protect themselves when the bad guys break in and do harm to them before we can get there...

[sparrow803]

And there will also be many fewer law abiding citizens that can protect themselves when the bad guys break in and do harm to them before we can get there...

LOL, doesn't say you HAVE to turn them in or ALL of them.

[retdetsgt]

These, like gun control laws are nice feel good measures that have little impact on crime. We've had gun turn ins a dozen or more times here and they've never made a ripple. It makes people feel like they're doing something though. But the cities with the most stringent gun control laws also seem to have the highest violent crime rate. Those pesky crooks just don't obey them.

I do wonder how many guns were stolen so they could be turned in for gas though?

[sparrow803]

I really don't think our PD needs any positive PR We have a relatively new Police Chief, with some awesome credentials who along with our police force are lowering the crime rate in our fair city. Maybe it is just a "feel good" .... like the last one they had a few weeks ago where you could turn in unwanted prescription/illegal drugs at a local church for disposal. That felt good too even though I had nothing to contribute.

Just as a side note, I am well aware it would not matter what I posted on here, it would draw negative posts. And, I am not the only one who feels this way. Yes, this is a LEO website, we all get it. Yes, there is a very large number registered here, but only a handfull post. I came back to RP after being gone for a few years thinking I would return to the same or at least similar website where we ALL had an enormous amount of fun, and learned from eachother.

I'm done ranting now. And I am sure I will be seen as a whiner, another thin skinned Democrat
LOL. But, the fact remains there ARE only a few legitimate posters here, (unless you count the book, play writers LOL)...and there IS a reason for that. So, good-bye. Wish I could say it was a pleasant experience.

[retdetsgt]

I'm not slamming you, don't get me wrong. And the police doesn't necessarily get the good PR for it, the community thinks they're doing something positive.

But I have a lot of experience investigating violent crime and was around long enough to see various programs and the impact (or lack of) they had on it. Bottom line is and always has been, laws aren't obeyed by crooks by definition.

And the prescription turn in is a great idea. My town had one and it sure beats flushing them down the toilet and letting them go God knows where.

[marinepilot]

Just as a side note, I am well aware it would not matter what I posted on here, it would draw negative posts. And, I am not the only one who feels this way. Yes, this is a LEO website, we all get it. Yes, there is a very large number registered here, but only a handfull post. I came back to RP after being gone for a few years thinking I would return to the same or at least similar website where we ALL had an enormous amount of fun, and learned from eachother.

I'm done ranting now. And I am sure I will be seen as a whiner, another thin skinned Democrat
LOL. But, the fact remains there ARE only a few legitimate posters here, (unless you count the book, play writers LOL)...and there IS a reason for that. So, good-bye. Wish I could say it was a pleasant experience.

sparrow,

I hope that you are not leaving for good, as I fail to see how anyone in this thread said anything negative towards you at all. I, personally, believe it's a good thread and a somewhat good purpose. The prescription drug turn in thing is DEFINITELY a good thing because like RDS said, it's MUCH better than flushing them down the toilet and having them get into the ground water.

If it was something I said to you and made you feel that I was throwing negative vibes your way, I apologize, for that was truly not my intention. Nor do I believe that anyone else, at least in this thread, has intentionally been mean to you, but, I know, the perception is yours.

Anyway, I hope we see you stick around as I, for one, have valued your posts since your return.

[MikeG]

WATERLOO, Iowa - Local residents will have a chance to put some gas in their tanks by turning in their guns.

The Waterloo Police Department, in cooperation with Jim Lind Shell Service Station, is hosting its first "Gas for Guns" event on June 11.

I hope it goes well. Two kinds will frequent it though: 1) is the criminal element listed early although surprise stings will probably keep the smarter ones away 2) people who have no training or need for a gun in their home. I personally don't mind guns but there are lots of people who end up with a gun through wills or ex-spouses, etc, etc that are only a huge liability for them. They don't even know how to unload them and they are too scared to find out so they get put in a drawer somewhere. This at least gives them the opportunity to get rid of those guns.

I hope as a matter of course, the PD runs the numbers after the collection and returns the stolen ones to rightful owners.

And no reason to leave. No one was attacking you and what you posted and I think everyone enjoys your posts. I was quite surprised to hear you felt that way. :(

[sparrow803]

I need to apologize...I was having a very, very bad day and my emotions were on the edge. I felt like the Police Dept. in my town was being attacked and I attacked back. I was overly sensitive and I know it.

On a positive note, it should be apparent how supportive I am of my local PD. I was locked and loaded.

I am however, still a Democrat.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I am however, still a Democrat.

That can be rectified.

[sparrow803]

That can be rectified.

There were some awesome Republican Presidents, Abe Lincoln, Ike Eisenhower, Roosevelt. I didn't like Reagan, I just didn't trust him. Nixon...let's not go there. First Pres. Bush - liked him too - there it stops. I have a high regard for the 'Old Republican Party' it's the tea partyers who don't seem to know anymore about politics than me and that scares the livin hell outta me. Sending Sara Pallin to a G8 Summit would be like sending Sponge Bob Squarepants. (sorry spongey if you're watchin)

[retdetsgt]

I felt like the Police Dept. in my town was being attacked and I attacked back.

Naw, my old department just did a gun buy back too. All the police actually involved knows it's a waste of time and money, but it makes people think the police and politicians are doing something about crime. The guns we get are mostly old junk that people wanted to get rid of anyway.

Sorry you took it as an attack, it was just a discussion and giving you my experience. Glad you came back.

[retdetsgt]

There were some awesome Republican Presidents, Abe Lincoln, Ike Eisenhower, Roosevelt. I didn't like Reagan, I just didn't trust him. Nixon...let's not go there. First Pres. Bush - liked him too - there it stops. I have a high regard for the 'Old Republican Party' it's the tea partyers who don't seem to know anymore about politics than me and that scares the livin hell outta me. Sending Sara Pallin to a G8 Summit would be like sending Sponge Bob Squarepants. (sorry spongey if you're watchin)

I don't like the extreme of either party. Both are equally dangerous.

What bothers me the most is the bias of the media. We were joking about Obama signing into Westminister Abby and writing 2008. It was barely a blip in the news, but we all know if Bush had done that, it would have been the lead story on news shows. Biden does just as many, if not more gaffes that Quayle, but they are handled completely differently. I'd just like to see the news covered with some objectivity.