Recession hits Mayor Daley's gun buyback programThe economy is so bad, you can't even get as much money for turning in your handgun to Chicago police.People who turn in handguns Saturday during the city's annual gun buyback program will get $50 instead of last year's $100.Aides to Mayor Richard Daley blamed a more than 50 percent drop in donations to the program and noted that fundraising took place in a down economy.Last year, about $130,000 was collected. This year, only $50,000 has come in. An assault weapon will still be worth $100. And BB guns and replicas once again will bring $10.Daley, a longtime anti-gun crusader, appeared this week with family members of gun-violence victims. The mayor told reporters the drop in donations did not disappoint him.The program has taken more than 18,000 guns off the streets since 2005, including 6,000 last year, Daley said.Guns can be turned in at 27 Chicago churches on Saturday. Organizers will give out prepaid cash cards in return. See the full list of churches at chicagotribune.com/buyback.
Dunno about you but if I had a gun that I knew had been used in a crime, I would gladly TAKE money for someone else to destroy the evidence...