Associated Press
October 20, 1999
Author: Jennifer Coleman,
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A state program designed to take illegal assault rifles off the streets has used only a fraction of its $1.4 million budget, spending about $80,000 to collect 350 SKS Sporters since January.
Lawmakers gave the Department of Justice enough money to purchase 5,000 SKS Sporters from their owners. The state pays $230 for each SKS Sporter. Gun dealers say the gun is actually worth about $130.
(NOTE: That price is complete bullshit. Detachable mag SKS's are going for *far* more money than even the insulting $230 state price. -- Phil Murphy, Brassroots, Inc.)
The buyback program gives gun owners a year to destroy their modified SKS Sporter, take the gun out of state or sell it to the state before it becomes illegal Dec. 31. After that date, anyone caught with an SKS Sporter with a detachable clip risks having their gun confiscated and being charged with a felony.
Even with the money and the amnesty offered, the guns are just "trickling in,'' said Janelle Beland, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Bill Lockyer. The turnout may be an accurate reflection of how many guns are out there, but nobody knows, she said.
Sales records on rifles, such as the SKS Sporter, erase personal information five days after the purchase. That includes names, the number of guns and the model, Beland said.
(NOTE: How many times can one say "Bullshit!" reading this tripe? -- Phil)
The semiautomatic rifle was manufactured in China. The original model held 10 shots, but a conversion kit would allow the user to attach a 30-round clip.
A lawyer for the National Rifle Association and the California Rifle and Pistol Association said the state Justice Department isn't seeing results because they aren't letting people know about the buyback and the impending deadline.
(NOTE: Ah, anyone *not* think this is part of Gray Davis' plan? -- Phil)
"There are a lot of people out there who become accidental felons under this, but if you don't hear about it, you can't do anything,'' Chuck Michel said.