WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

Stinger Missile Launcher Shows Up At Gun Buyback

Seattle police trying to trace weapon's origins

Jan 29, 2013 by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

Gun buybacks have been known to bring out some unusual items. But authorities probably didn't expect to see a stinger missile launcher offered up at a recent Seattle event.

Seattle police are tracking down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a recent weapons buyback program, reports The Christian Science Monitor. Detective Mark Jamieson says the launcher is a controlled military item and that's not available to civilians through any surplus or disposal program offered by the government. He says it's most likely that the launch tube was previously obtained unlawfully from the military.

The weapon turned up at what's turned out to be a growing number of gun buyback events across the nation, particularly as gun control efforts have ramped up after recent mass shootings. At a recent event Los Angeles, one of several municipalities to hold a gun buyback event since the Dec. 14 mass shooting in Newton, CT, collected more than 2,000 firearms - a record, police officials reported. Among the items: two rocket launchers and 75 assault weapons.

Via The Christian Science Monitor.

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?	Is there any reason for a private citizen to own a stinger missile launcher?

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Comments (view in Forum)

Jan '13

PNWest

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I'm sure that the gun nuts will claim that it is their 2nd amendment right to own one. You never know when some bad guy will try to attack your house with a stolen black hawk helicopter.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Did someone say black helicopters?
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Jan '13

scotta

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Why sure we might just have to blast an Alkita strong hold down the block or a sleeper cell next door. Or maybe my inlaw's family reunion.
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Jan '13

scotta

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@jessejaymes I need one of thoes also.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@scotta I'll pass that along to the next one I see. Maybe I can get info on where to pick one up. Have you checked Ebay?
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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It had already been fired. Can't be reused. Totally harmless. The military throws them away.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Other than the fact they wanted one, no. But they are a spent device. They don't work any longer and can't be made to work again. Unless I'm missing something here they're nothing more than a really novel coat rack. If that is the case why the indignation?
- B3 • Vote Up r12 Replies
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Jan '13

EMS_Servant

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I would love to own some demilitarized launchers as novelty items but I have no use for an actual RPG, SMAW, etc. However is an example of where security should be tightened on what used items get taken out of the battlefield, etc. If live versions started being used in public massacres then I would say we have a problem but this simply isn't the case.
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Post @EMS_Servant
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@EMS_Servant here's my thoughts on this. Some jackass robbed a house that some military guy had brought home a spent rocket launcher and thought he had struck paydirt. Then he finds out it's a dud. But he hangs onto it to show his jackass buddies until the novelty wears off and he gets no more attention with it so it gets thrown in a closet. NOW there is a buyback and said jackass decides to turn it in for cash. If I were in charge of the buy back I'd laugh at him and take his launcher on the grounds it's illegal to even have and tell him I'm calling the cops. Then watch him run.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Exactly, the article makes clear it was deactivated. Wouldn't be surprized if govt turns out this is a govt effort to create anti-gun hysteria to help pass gun control laws.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@PoliticalSpice I hadn't thought of that but it wouldn't surprise me at all.
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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@PoliticalSpice - Welcome over to our side Spice. Once you start becoming skeptical of your government, all that is left is to register with the Republican party. Let me be the first to welcome you aboard.
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Jan '13

Vance1

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Yea sure, these story's are just that "A Story"
if they had one, it was probably a "Model" a test , practice tool

People will believe anything these days........WOW!!
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Jan '13

marine1

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Aint America Grrrrrrreat
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Jan '13

Vance1

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@marine1
OH YEA!
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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It had been fired. It was just a tube. Totally harmless.
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Jan '13

Vance1

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@NTBFW
Indeed, But the Media will twist it
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Jan '13

ConserveUSA

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Liberals are getting rough.
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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It had already been fired. What was turned in was just a plastic tube. Totally harmless. They just throw these away.
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Jan '13

Sabio

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see, you can ban stuff all day long, if it exists, people will get their hands on it!
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Jan '13

Medicinebow

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I'm amazed Politix would even ask. Which stores offer such a weapon for private use? <sarcasm>
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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Who are the people who think it is okay to own a missle launcher?
Do you mean it's okay to own an inoperable shell or do you mean an actual functioning missle launcher?
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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I wouldn't mind having one. Especially if the house republicans were flying to a retreat in a plane overhead...
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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@PoliticalSpice
Have you heard the house republicans? No need to act like the violent terrorists on the right. Come 2014 there will barely be any house republicans.
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Jan '13

joshinAZ

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Wow I could only imagine the shit storm you lefties would create if someone said something about shooting down a plane loaded with Obama, Pelosi and Fienstien
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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@joshinAZ Oh no.....ruin a perfectly good plane. That would be a bummer!
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@joshinAZ I'm more careful then that. Re-read what I wrote. I just said I'd like to have one, that's all...
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Jan '13

slov

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Oh mo the morons on the left have a field day w that since they habe no life n want to shove there beliefs on every1. If the stinger is none functional n was aquired without beinng stolen don't see a prob no dif from hand grenades n bouncing bettys..but the key is non functional and no eay to male fire
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

RoFroh

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I would say if the launchers weren't reusable (which they are) they might be nice to have in a military weapons collection.
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Jan '13

cat2009

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Can't believe that someone turns in the stinger and nobody asked anything.
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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No word about the three Streetsweeper shotguns that were exchanged for $100 each? All I can say is, someone is either feeling very guilty or they have no idea how much those could be sold for.
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Jan '13

Avaholic90

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hey if its spent who gives a crap. as for if it was loaded. i could see someone going hunting and wanting the meat cooked when they walked up to the deer or whatever the hunted lol.
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Jan '13

Jack-Black

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Seattle police are tracking down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher ....KEY word "nonfunctional"...qu it being so gullible.
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Jan '13

Quick

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I wonder which Country they are shipping those guns to?
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Jan '13

WTF4

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We don't need TVs, cars, 300 pairs of shoes and many other things but we do have them
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Jan '13

JustTheFacts

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Big deal ... as long as you have a class 3 stamp, you'd be surprised what kind of military weapons you can buy assuming you have really deep pockets!
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Jan '13

AlexMIA

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A class 3 stamp will get you short barrelled shotguns, rifles, and suppressors at best. Full auto only pre1982, and a mac 10 will be over $6,000. You can only get military select fire rifles if you are military, law enforcement, a security contractor, or a class 3 store or range certified for that. I can get an M4 silenced with an 11 and a half inch barrel but no select fire for about $4,000. They won't allow select fire for that rifle to civilians, and that will set you back $10,000-$15,000.
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Feb '13

JustTheFacts

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@AlexMIA I seen a guy in Texas that owned a anti-aircraft quad 50cal....$10,000 -$50,000 everytime he gets it out and shoots it.

Better yet ... Knob Creek, KY ... machine gun shoot is a good example ... private citizens with lots of cash owning serious firepower.
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Post @JustTheFacts
Feb '13

AlexMIA

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@JustTheFacts The KY folk, do you know them personally? Can you be sure they don't meet any of the requirements I posted above? They guy with the quad fifty, do you now how it is? There are provisions for ownership of historical value.
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Jan '13

Republican5001

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Now hear this...

Now hear this...

HOLY SHIT! ALERT THE PRESS! AN EMPTY METAL TUBE TURNED IN BY A CRACKHEAD FOR MONEY!

That is all...
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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Ok, so my question is this...can I sponsor a gun buy back??
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Jan '13

AlexMIA

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I'll bank roll some of that if you can!
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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@AlexMIA

Awesome, start on your wishlist!
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Jan '13

AlexMIA

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@texas_cutie75 Given the propaganda on this article, I'm hoping for a Bradley or maybe even an Abahm!
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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@AlexMIA

Ok, I get the first rocket launcher.:-)
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Jan '13

AlexMIA

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@texas_cutie75 As long as you ride with me on the Bradley, we can take turns on the fifty. ;)
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Is there any reason for a private citizen to own a stinger missile launcher?

Is there any reason for a private citizen to own a stinger missile launcher?