Missile launcher shows up at Seattle gun buyback

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police worked with Army officials Monday to track down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a weapons buyback program and determine whether it was legal or possibly stolen from the military.

A man standing outside the event Saturday bought the military weapon for $100 from another person there, according to Detective Mark Jamieson.

The single-use device is a launch tube assembly for a Stinger portable surface-to-air missile and already had been used. As a controlled military item, it is not available to civilians through any surplus or disposal program offered by the government, according to Jamieson.

Seattle police have contacted Army officials at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma deputy chief Nick Metz said.

“Once it’s brought on base and investigators have a chance to look at it, they’ll see what they can determine,” Army spokesman Joe Kubistek said Monday. “It’s too early to give any information on it until we have hands-on access to see it and take a look at it.”

Police witnessed the private exchange of the military launch tube near the gun buyback event, where gun buyers tempted those standing in long lines to turn in their weapons with cash.

Officers saw guns changing private hands without knowing whether the person buying the gun had the legal right to buy it.

While there were private gun buyers at the periphery of Saturday’s event, Metz said a large majority of people chose to wait in line and get less money because they wanted to make sure they got the weapons off the streets.

The firearms collected included 348 pistols, 364 rifles and three so-called street sweepers, or shotguns that include a high capacity magazine capable of holding twelve 12-gauge shotgun shells.

The program allowed people to anonymously turn in their weapons for a shopping gift card worth up to $200 — $100 for each handgun, rifle or shotgun turned in, and $200 for each gun classified as an assault weapon under state law. Officials distributed about $70,000 in gift cards at the event.

Police took possession of the launch tube Saturday. Police said the man who had purchased it agreed to accept a gift card as compensation if the launch tube is not returned to him, though the man indicated he wanted to keep it if he was legally able to do so.

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connor 3 months, 3 weeks ago

What a leftist bent article. The mayor was all up in arms screaming about the private buyers who were offering fair market price for the firearms. Of course most of the private buyers also insisted on a name so if the firearm turned up as stolen property they would know who to look for. Strangely enough the police didn't. And we are all sure they will attempt to find the legal owners of any stolen property now won't they?

A street sweeper is a short barreled shotgun NOT a saiga or other magazine fed shotgun it all has to do with the length of the barrel allowing the shot to scatter thereby "sweeping" the street. They are usually double barreled one shot affairs and not a 12 shot magazine model. In fact I am not all that familiar with the magazine fed shotguns but I believe getting one to hold 12 rounds is a major money investment if I am not mistaken and rare to see anyone owning one.

The buy back police apparently picked up by 11 AM in a huff and left after discussing how they could bend the Constitution once again and attempt to run the private buyers off. They finally decided there were too many witnesses I guess.

If you run the numbers the math seems a bit off as well for the number of guns reportedly collected. As anyone willing to trade the liberal mis-named assault rifle for 200 bucks is a complete fool or dealing in stolen property. Also the time involved with the lines reported even after the private gun buyers show up suggests that it would have been impossible to take in that many firearms with any kind of paper work or questioning at all.

So basically the Seattle PD became a legal no questions asked fencing service of stolen property for one Saturday morning. Good job.

eileen10 3 months, 3 weeks ago

How in the world could anyone steal a missle launcher from the military? When I lived at the Grand Forks AFB I was a bit drunk after an evening at the officers club and I took a wrong turn and ended up with three guys aiming their guns at my car. I knew one of the guys so they just told me to go home. The security is tight at those places so I sure don't know how a theft could occur but I guess anything is possible if indeed the launcher was stolen.

yamahamian 3 months, 3 weeks ago

You DO know its just the launch tube, correct? The media wants to make a big deal over a piece of useless, non-reuseable metal here, all to forward "the cause" of King Obozo.

eileen10 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Oh. No I didn't realize...guess I need to read things more carefully. Thank you.

Littleinvestor 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Lots of people, probably many of them widows who know nothing about guns, have essentially given away guns that have collector's value of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. I find that sad for them, because they could use the money, and I hate to see fine old guns destroyed because many of them are works of art, at least as far as I'm concerned.

mmhh 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Wow, people. The whole point of this article is yet another example of how totally inappropriate and unnecessary weapons are in circulation. Operational or not, this is a problem. Keep your precious deer hunting guns and small pistols but don't for a second expect me to cry over the potential loss of your high capacity magazines and assault rifles.

connor 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I bet you'll cry over the right you do care about when they get around to it though.

mmhh 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Let me weep, then, if I'm hanging on to a right to posess anything that may cause mass harm and loss of life. I don't own such a thing, so I'm not too concerned. The governement tends to stay out of my life in all the ways I want it to.

yamahamian 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Just for instance here: Let's say you do own a gun and enjoy shooting it at targets, collecting them, etc, and are an other-wise law-abiding citizen in every way, wouldn't you like the government to stay out of your way on your ability to do so?

connor 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Good then when we start a campaign to take a right away that we don't use and you do we won't hear you whining.

John 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, your statement is already specious and an outright unbelievable tale. You do own an automobile, right? They kill a heck of a lot more people, including children and infants, than firearms. . . .

eileen10 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I could never keep up with all the gun talk. There's a handle and a barrel and the trigger but I for one cannot see giving up a gun. Any gun. Just thought I'd add my two cents.

wow 3 months, 3 weeks ago

It sounds like someone attemtping to prove a point or send a messsage. A Stinger used or unused should not be something floating around at a gun show. It has nothing to do with 2nd amend rights and everything to do with some serious security issues and possibly a more sinister intent. Yes the tube/trainier wasn't deadly...but there are to many unanswered questions surrounding this deal. I don't need to know all the details, but I certainly hope somebody is looking much deeper into the matter and not playing this off as a simple gun show transaction!

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