Another Useless Gun Buyback: Georgia Representative Morgan Wants Your Guns

The uneducated equate gun control with crime control. The reality is gun control merely eases government oppression and criminal violence. In state after state, studies have show that the more restrictive the gun laws, the higher the incidence of violence. After all, criminals who do not fear their victims are free to rape, murder, and pillage without the threat of being injured or killed.

Gun buybacks are the unwitting accomplice to crime and oppression. Frequently, buybacks are sponsored by a church or civic group with the “good intention” of reducing violence. I’ve yet to see a single, credible study that has shown a buyback has prevented a single crime or accidental shooting. I have, however, seen beautiful, antique firearms and highly-sought collectible guns turned in for a $25 WalMart gift card or pair of sweat shop made sneakers.

So, here we go again. This time we have a gun buyback happening in Austell, GA. State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan hopes the programs will “raise the awareness of the issue of violence.”

Really? “Raise awareness” about violence? I think everyone knows that this is a violent world. But, notice how there is no hope to actually reduce violence. Reducing violence would actually involve empowering the citizens to defend themselves, prosecuting criminals when arrested, and building more prisons to keep felons locked away from society. Rep. Morgan has the ability to influence change in those areas, but she would rather “hope” that a buyback will “raise awareness.”

Of course Rep. Morgan did vote for HR 123 which would have allowed the Georgia constitution to be amended to allow convicted felons to vote while still serving their sentence on probation or parole. So, fewer rights for the law abiding and more rights for the convicted felons… Thanks Rep. Morgan!

What is particularly interesting about this is Austell is in the south end of Cobb County. In the north end of the same county is Kennesaw, GA. Most people recognize Kennesaw as having the one of the lowest crime rates anywhere in the southeastern United States. Kennesaw also requires gun ownership by all residents.

Maybe Austell should consider a gun subsidy program to make sure citizens can defend themselves from the predators that seek out the weak and defenseless?

Feel free to let these folks know your opinion on the subject of crime and gun control:

GA State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan
Suite 404 Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
Office - (404) 656-0109
Home - (770) 948-6447
Cell - (770) 912-0609
alisha@alishamorgan.com

GA Senator Doug Stoner
121-E State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Office - (404) 463-2518
Fax - (404) 651-6767
doug.stoner@senate.ga.gov

Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens
100 Cherokee Street
Marietta, GA 30090-9679
Office - (770) 528-3300
Fax - (770) 528-2606
solens@cobbcounty.org

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Church hosts gun buy-back program

Gun owners are invited to turn in their weapons in exchange for gift cards this weekend in Cobb. The “Stop The Violence” event will include panel discussions about youth violence, too.

The gun buy-back program on Saturday is hosted by Destiny World Church, 7400 Factory Shoals Road in Austell. It will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The church is hosting two workshops for parents and teens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The topic of one session is “Why are our sons and daughters so angry?” The other session will discuss gangs.

There will be a teen forum on Friday at the South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive in Austell, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This program is for teenagers only.

State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan hopes the programs will “raise the awareness of the issue of violence.”

She worked with several organizations to put together the programs after Joshua Caleb Burroughs was shot and killed on April 16 in Austell. Two teenagers, who police say are gang members, have been charged with his murder.

“There is a gang presence in every school in Cobb, even though we are focusing on south Cobb, which is my district,” Morgan said.

Six Flags Over Georgia donated 12 park tickets and $500 toward the buy-back. Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens contributed $1,000 and State Sen. Doug Stoner gave $500. Several businesses also contributed to the effort, Morgan said.

The gift cards will be in $25 and $50 increments.

The discussions “will help people understand that they can play a role,” Morgan said.

“We are not going to sit idly by….It will have a positive impact. It is one of the first steps for all of us to send the message: not in my community, not in our community.”

Cobb police will be on hand for the events on Friday and Saturday, said Officer Cassie Reece, a department spokeswoman. Evidence technicians will take the functioning guns.

The program is supported by the Cobb Police Department, the Cobb Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Department of Public Safety.

For more information on the Save Our Youth: Stop the Violence program go to: http://www.alishamorgan.com.