A few years ago, some joker was making slam-fire shotguns to turn in at gun “buybacks.” He used the proceeds to pay for shooting classes for newbies. Obviously, I liked that. I think they finally banned him from their buybacks.

July this year, a genius printed up a batch of 62 plastic “ghost guns,” for as much as $150 a pop; although reports varied on exactly how much he cleared, it sounds like he netted at least a couple of grand.

That was impressive; but, folks, we have a new winner.

Man exchanges 3D printed guns for $21,000 at New York gun buyback program
Using his $200 3D printer, Kem quickly birthed a battery of plastic firearms, and drove six hours from his home to Utica, where the buyback program was holding an event.

“I 3D-printed a bunch of lower receivers and frames for different kinds of firearms,” said Kem.

Kem explained that upon arriving in Utica, he was asked how many guns he wished to turn in, to which he replied, “110.”

I would love to see video of the looks on their faces.

After spending the rest of the day negotiating with staff, Kem was presented with 42 gift cards, each worth $500, making the total payout $21,000.

That’s a pretty good haul. But his point is far, far better.

“I’m sure handing over $21,000 in gift cards to some punk kid after getting a bunch of plastic junk was a rousing success,” Kem told WKTV, adding that, “gun buybacks are a fantastic way of showing, number one, that your policies don’t work, and, number two, you’re creating perverse demand. You’re causing people to show up to these events, and, they don’t actually reduce crime whatsoever.”

Yep.

In the Houston, some reports suggested that the authorities argued with the entrepreneur over whether his “guns” were guns, and thus eligible for payment. In New York, the Law of Unintended Consequences bit them on the posterior. Just last year, New York passed their ill-advised Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receivers Act, which rather clearly defines these plastic trinkets as firearms.

Oopsie. And the usual “no questions asked” policies ensured that “Kem” should face zero consequences for unlawful possession of those “firearms.”

 

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