Guns Traded for Roses on Valentine's Day in South Carolina

[LowCapacity]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,493009,00.html

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Police in South Carolina want residents to have a rose for their sweeties on Valentine's Day.

All they have to do is turn in a gun.

Authorities are running the "Guns for Roses" program Saturday at Bethesda Church of God and the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center in Sumter, S.C., and Friendship Baptist Church in Columbia.

Anyone turning in a gun gets a free rose and a Best Buy gift card. A handgun gets a $100 gift card, while a rifle or shotgun gets a $50 gift card.

Police say the guns need to be unloaded and stored in a bag in the trunk of the car. An officer will meet people in the parking lot, take the gun and give out a voucher to be redeemed inside the church.

[Pa. Patriot]

As a supposed neutral public service entity, why are police departments allowed to take part in or run these types of politically motivated programs such as gun buy backs/trade ins?

[1861]

My sweetie would rather have a new pistol than roses.

[MrBi11]

Isn't there a trademark violation involved there?

[customloaded]

Are not the police illegally purchasing firearms? I mean, they do not have an FFL. The firearms are not being confiscated in the performance of Law Enforcement Duties. They are acting as a purchasing entity via compensation to the seller. So, are they or are they not violating Federal Law in purchasing firearms without legal standing to do so? Could they not be violating SC state law also? Just merely wondering.

NOTE: This program in Columbia SC is specifically aimed at lone females who have possession of firearms. Rose on Valentines Day for a gun? How low can it go!!! Playing on the emotional loneliness of women to interact with mostly men, in uniform no doubt, and receive a Valentines Day Rose, plus money!

Total Hog Wash IMHO.

[CoyoteJack]

I wonder if we will hear any news from SC next week about how some of these people who traded their firearms for weapons were followed back home and robbed?

Probably not and even if there were such cases no link would be established.

[CommonHighrise]

Just waiting for one of these to go off locally. Stand in front of the police, and buy up some rifles/shotguns at $50 a pop cash.

[Pennywise]

Just waiting for one of these to go off locally. Stand in front of the police, and buy up some rifles/shotguns at $50 a pop cash.

And probably be charged with obstruction of justice or some similar horse shit.

[etenp99]

I just saw this story on Yahoo. What a load of crap. Love the idea of trying to buy before theyre turned in.

[RuralTom]

By far the stupidest part of the whole thing is the lack of any sort of amnesty for the idiot who turns in the gun. Maybe I'm missing something, but I thought they did this to get guns off the street and away from criminals/lowlifes. If I were some street thug who had a gun of questionable history, I sure wouldn't hand it over in this scenario.....