2,000 People Disarm Themselves in Los Angeles

Granted, some of these guns were probably dangerous not because they might be used in a crime but because they might blow up in your hands, but the Mayor's statement shows an amazing naivety.

More than 2,000 guns are off the streets of Los Angeles thanks to Saturday's third annual gun buyback event.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the results of the program at a press conference Monday, saying it was the most successful yet.

"I'd like to thank Angelenos who came out over the weekend and turned in guns, automatic weapons of every kind... even a rocket launcher," Villaraigosa said.

"As Chief [Beck] said, you can't use that to shoot squirrel."

Police at 6 locations throughout the city received 953 handguns, 688 rifles, 330 shotguns and 91 assault weapons.

Assault weapons were worth as much as $200 in gift cards from Ralph's or Visa while handguns were worth $100.

Villaraigosa said the event promotes safer communities and puts the message out to "say no to guns, no to gangs, no to indiscriminate violence in our neighborhoods."

"Quite simply, I think people are tired of the gun violence, tired of seeing the kind of carnage that is left behind when assault weapons are used to maim and kill," he said.

Let's think about that last statement for a moment. If you're tired of all the gun violence but aren't actually contributing to it, what sense does it make to disarm yourself? The problem is not the citizens who chose to turn in guns, but the people who have them and are using them unlawfully.  Taking these guns off the street made some liberals feel good, but it accomplished nothing in the effort against gun violence.