Do you need some extra cash and have a few illegal guns lying around or know where some are? Then “Gas for Guns” might be for you.
The name of the program might scare off a few people, but it isn’t as spooky as it sounds. In fact, the rationale behind the program isn’t too bad.
Let me explain.
East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden teamed up with Circle K last month to promote the program. Essentially, certain guns are exchanged anonymously for gas coupons to Circle K, ranging from $50-$200. Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies had a $40,000 budget to work with, $15,000 of which came from a Circle K donation. The gas cards were used in lieu of cash to prevent people from turning in guns to get drug money, or worse, pawn off a couple of their old, beat up pea shooters for a real man’s weapon, like an AK-47.
Four churches joined in on the fun: Greater Beech Grove Baptist Church, Mount Zion First Baptist, Greater Sixty Aid Baptist Church and Healing Place. If your church did help pick up guns, you may have seen one of the guns’ sights bear an inscription of JN8:12 (short for John 8:12) on them, which is the oh-so-famous, “I am the Light of the World” verse. I must confess, though, I’ve never considered the “light” to be a possible reference to muzzle flash.
Overall, the program went over well and has good intentions. According to the preliminary results issued by District Attorney Hillar Moore III, some 259 guns were exchanged for $26,000 in gas coupons.
However, the program does have its flaws.
First, there’s little in the way of hard numbers and research to support this feel-good campaign. We don’t really know that criminals aren’t just stealing weapons from neighbors, other criminals, or worse, legitimate business owners who sell these kinds of weapons. Second, the incentives are weak. Gas is useful, but what about food and clothes? The thug bustin’ up in yo’ house for a quick buck probably doesn’t have tons of cash to spare, and he or she could probably use food and good clothes at least as much as some fresh unleaded black gold.
As a matter of fact, Cleveland’s police department is planning to do a similar program Nov. 6 but is only accepting handguns. Not only do they receive a $50 gas or food card, they will receive two tickets to games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Eerie Monsters.
Not bad, Cleveland. Not bad at all.
Adam Smith, one of the forefathers of modern economic theory, introduced us to some of the policies our government still uses to try to rein in our wily economy. He famously wrote, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”
Self-interest is a very, very powerful motivator, so I like the rationale of this program and can’t wait to see how it works out — but I still have my reservations.
The Bush administration ended a similar program in 2001 that had been started by the Clinton administration in 1999. Of its four reasons for ending the program, three give me serious concerns.
First, they found results of buybacks only minimally efficient at stopping serious crimes. Second, the kinds of guns turned in were either very old or not functioning, which means we’re just wasting money buying gas for people. Third, the program failed to reduce ownership of guns by criminals, making it ultimately a failure.
I like the effort to make better, more effective programs here in Baton Rouge, and “Gas for Guns” is absolutely a move in the right direction. Using economic measures and providing incentives for citizens absolutely has potential for lowering our dangerously high crime rates, but we need to put our money in places where it’s been shown to be effective.
Great idea, questionable execution.
By the way, is it just me, or does it seem ironic that a state ravaged by petroleum is using gas to catch criminals?
Devin Graham is a 21-year-old business management senior from Prairieville. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_dgraham.
Click here to read another opinion column opposing the “Gas for Guns” program.
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Contact Devin Graham [email protected]