{"id":216698,"date":"2025-06-09T17:08:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T22:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=216698"},"modified":"2025-10-08T08:19:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:19:44","slug":"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gun-control advocates have long touted gun buyback programs as an effective way to reduce gun violence. But what if the data shows otherwise? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What if these programs don\u2019t reduce crime, waste taxpayer dollars, and quietly push the message that gun ownership is a public menace?<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Texas lawmakers pass bill banning gun buyback programs\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tPSXNiaT_Gg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-meet-rep-wes-virdell\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" data-level=\"2\">Meet Rep. Wes Virdell<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-failed-narrative\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" data-level=\"2\">A Failed Narrative<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-misleading-language\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" data-level=\"2\">Misleading Language<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-buyback-ban-headed-to-governor-s-desk\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" data-level=\"2\">Buyback Ban Headed to Governor&#8217;s Desk<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-broader-fight-ahead\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" data-level=\"2\">A Broader Fight Ahead<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-meet-rep-wes-virdell\">Meet Rep. Wes Virdell <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s the argument Texas Rep. Wes Virdell is making\u2014and he\u2019s backing it with legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virdell\u2019s bill, HB <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/TX\/text\/HB3035\/2025#:~:text=Texas%20House%20Bill%203035&amp;text=Bill%20Title%3A%20Relating%20to%20the,the%20Department%20of%20Public%20Safety.&amp;text=unit%20within%20the%20Department%20of%20Public%20Safety.,-BE%20IT%20ENACTED&amp;text=products.&amp;text=Section%2031.19(a)%2C%20Penal%20Code.\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">3053<\/a>, would prohibit local governments from using tax dollars to fund gun buyback programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what prompted the legislation, he was extremely candid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Watching cities host these events and knowing that gun buybacks don\u2019t reduce crime or suicides motivated me to file the bill,&#8221; Virdell told <em>GunsAmerica Digest<\/em> in an exclusive interview. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s not wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a 2021 National Bureau of Economic Research <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/system\/files\/working_papers\/w28763\/w28763.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">study<\/a>, gun buybacks in the U.S. have had &#8220;little to no impact on gun crime or firearm-related violence.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another analysis <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/annalsofsurgery\/abstract\/2021\/08000\/prevention_of_firearm_violence_through_specific.18.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">published<\/a> in <em>Annals of Surgery<\/em> found a minor potential benefit in suicide prevention among older white men but zero impact on gun violence overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, some defenders argue that every gun off the street is a win. Virdell&#8217;s response? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Whoever makes that argument is a fool and didn\u2019t bother to do their own research.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-failed-narrative\">A Failed Narrative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SA councilman urges veto of Texas bill aiming to ban gun buyback program amid public safety concerns\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uAbRQDHOvpw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the data, Virdell believes gun buybacks promote a dangerous idea: that guns are inherently bad, and that government is the solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It undermines the 2nd Amendment by creating a narrative that guns are bad and government will save us,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Any person who has even done a little historical research would know how moronic it is to believe government will save us.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He&#8217;s not alone in that thinking. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2024\/02\/gun-buybacks-north-carolina\/677520\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">Critics<\/a> of buybacks have pointed out that the firearms collected are typically low-quality, inoperable, or never used in crimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One 2002 <a href=\"https:\/\/injuryprevention.bmj.com\/content\/8\/2\/143\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">study<\/a> in <em>Injury Prevention<\/em> concluded that <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/firearms\/handguns\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\">handguns<\/a> turned in during Milwaukee\u2019s buybacks were not the types commonly used in homicides or suicides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, these aren\u2019t &#8220;crime guns&#8221;\u2014they\u2019re clutter guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-misleading-language\">Misleading Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the term &#8220;buyback&#8221; is misleading.  &#8220;The government can\u2019t buy back something it never owned,&#8221; Virdell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a phrase that suggests the state has rightful prior ownership and that civilians are simply borrowing their rights. That kind of linguistic sleight-of-hand should concern <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/six-stocking-stuffers-every-gun-owner-is-sure-to-love\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"456\">every gun owner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virdell\u2019s bill doesn\u2019t stop private citizens from selling firearms or dropping them off at a police station. It simply ends the use of public funds to incentivize a narrative of civilian disarmament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I am opposed to taxpayer money being spent on things that have proven to be ineffective,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-buyback-ban-headed-to-governor-s-desk\">Buyback Ban Headed to Governor&#8217;s Desk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After passing both chambers of the Texas Legislature, House Bill 3053 now sits on Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s desk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He has until June 22 to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action, it will automatically become law and take effect Sept. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Abbott hasn\u2019t issued a formal statement, his strong record of supporting pro-Second Amendment legislation has many observers expecting him to sign it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If enacted, Texas would become the first state to formally <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/canada-announces-first-steps-for-banned-firearm-buyback\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"455\">ban local taxpayer-funded gun buyback programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-broader-fight-ahead\">A Broader Fight Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the future? Expect more pushback against state-funded gun control programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I guarantee it. If government is attempting to undermine or discredit firearms and firearm ownership, I will be there ready to stand in their way,&#8221; Virdell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not HB 3053 passes this session, Virdell\u2019s blunt-force honesty is forcing a long-overdue conversation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Are gun buybacks ineffective, symbolic theater designed to pacify voters while doing nothing for public safety? Or are they a noble, if modest, tool in a broader violence prevention strategy?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research leans one way. And the rhetoric from Rep. Virdell just might push it into law.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What say you?  Is it time to ban gun buybacks? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"is-it-time-to-ban-gun-buybacks\" title=\"Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I am opposed to taxpayer money being spent on things that have proven to be ineffective,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":216863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4024],"tags":[132,607,122],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-216698","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-buzz","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-r2kba"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is It Time to Ban Gun Buybacks?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Texas moves to ban taxpayer-funded gun buybacks as critics slam the programs as wasteful and ineffective. 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