Rocket launcher returned as part of Baltimore gun buyback

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Hill


BY TAL AXELROD - 12/25/18 04:49 PM EST

A rocket launcher was one of over a thousand weapons that have been collected as part of Baltimore’s gun buyback program.

Three buyback events have been held thus far, with the first two yielding 1,089 firearms. The weapons include 509 handguns, 273 rifles, 245 shotguns and a rocket launcher, for which the city paid $500, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Interim police Commissioner Gary Tuggle said Friday police had reached out to the military and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the rocket launcher’s origin, which the Associated Press reports was turned in last week. The city has doled out about $163,000 so far as part of the program.

A spokesman for Mayor Catherine Pugh told The Sun that $250,000 from miscellaneous expenses has been made available to cover the cost of the buyback initiative.

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/422839-rocket-launcher-returned-as-part-of-baltimore-gun-buyback

[PoliticAverse]

1. "the unloaded rocket launcher" - aka a hollow tube. n/t

[blugbox]

4. Seriously! That's a good chunk of change

For a hollow tube and simple circuit! Lol it's pretty funny hearing "rocket launcher" but it's the rocket itself that does all the work.

[oldlibdem]

29. $500 for a rocket launcher without a rocket?

man, I'm going to have to find me some empty law's!

[Hulk]

2. Just curious...

How common are weapon buy backs? Seems like a great idea. Would be great if that 1% with the gross abundance of wealth would sponsor these...or any other concerned philanthropists.

Every gun we can take off the street is a win...including rocket launchers👍

[irisblue]

3. Outside of the military, who TF needs a rocket launcher?

[Aristus]

5. Simple, the fat, out-of-shape, basement-dwelling, incel mamma's boys

who think weapons make them Rambo.

[The Mouth]

8. Me.

But it was for model rockets many years ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Estes-Journey-Model-Rocket-Launch/dp/B01I8VBUVK/ref=sr_1_22_m?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1545785429&sr=1-22&refinements=p_89%3AEstes

[irisblue]

9. I was imaging something more like this video :: language::

I did not know there were so many types.

[The Mouth]

12. I hate it when that happens.

[orangecrush]

18. ...

[ansible]

7. Baltimore PD just got ripped off

You can buy one on Ebay for only $260

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AT4-Rocket-Launcher-Display-Demilled-/401648093583?hash=item5d8417898f%3Ag%3APW8AAOSwSudcActx&nma=true&si=4uPixzvEUobjTdy1dpM96BIVDP8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[orangecrush]

19. "This item no longer available"

[NickB79]

10. Without a rocket, it's a metal pipe with a trigger

And rockets are impossible to get.

That was $500 pissed away.

[xor]

11. I am curious as to what kind of rocket launcher it was.

If it was something that someone stole from the US military with bad intent, or if maybe it was some Russia made/knock-off RPG that someone brought home as souvenir.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

13. It was a AT4 tube

Aka a very big and unwieldy paperweight.

There was no actual rocket turned in. This happens from time to time, usually with more common LAW rocket tubes. Someone dumps one off at a city gun buy back and the local reporters run with a story that a rocket launcher was taken off the streets, usually while either burying or ignoring the small detail that the rocket itself was not turned in and the tube itself is considered useless and disposable after firing.

[xor]

14. Ahhh... Must have fell off the back of a truck out to be recycled or something.

Those are a single shot thing, right?

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

15. Yep, single shot

And most likely it was taken after it was turned in after live fire training. Since they are single use, they are issued like ammo. For live fire training, we have to police the range for all the spent brass and turn it back into the supply point. The brass is counted to make sure the ammo was actually fired and not stolen. Since the tubes are single use only and useless once used, they are basically written off as expended and tossed. Technically, the tubes probably should wind up with the remaining brass and auctioned off or sold to recyclers or wherever all the brass goes, but i am sure guys just take them. Since they are no longer usable, already marked expended on the books, they aren't exactly a priority to see who is taking them. Further, if I remember right, I don't think the tubes even have a serial number on them. Just some very obvious instructions on use and warnings.

[cstanleytech]

16. I thought that the empty brass was gathered to be reused so they just recycle it instead?

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

20. Yep, its basically scrapped

Its collected and auctioned off. Some buyers are recyclers who scrap it. Others are ammunition reloading companies that reload it and resell it on the civilian market. The amount of brass the military goes through is insane. Back when they started auctioning off the Humvees, I took a look on the website to see what they were going for and I spotted the spent brass auctions. Lots of 2,000-10,000lbs worth of brass being auctioned off starting at 20 bucks.

[cstanleytech]

21. Wouldnt it be cheaper for the military to simply setup a system to reload the ammo with its

own personal? Granted I probably would not expect them to use it in combat but surely it would be good enough for all the training they do.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

24. Liability and money

Hand reloaded ammunition can be dangerous if not done right. Plus there is the added concern of storing the primers and powder, then procuring all the equipment and training people to use it. Automated reloading might be safer, but due to the sheer volume of ammo the military buys, the per bullet cost may be so low that there is no justification to build or buy a new factory to reload ammo. Further, DoD loves contracting stuff out, so there may not actually be any substantial savings.

[JohnnyRingo]

17. I like guns but I love these programs.

Most street crimes aren't perpetrated using $700 Colts or skeet shotguns. Instead, they're done with the exact gun someone would turn in at a buy back. A duct taped throw down gun.

Get them off the streets and recycle into something useful.

[whistler162]

22. Someone doing a reenactment of

the whole Star Spangled Banner poem!

[Bob Loblaw]

23. Paging Bruce Cockburn

nt

[sarisataka]

25. I wonder if I paint

A section of 4" PVC pipe olive drab and write 'rocket launcher' on it could I get some money for it? It would be about the same as a used AT-4 tube

[oneshooter]

27. A used AT4 tube is worth more.

It is metal and can be recycled!

[sarisataka]

31. I thought

It was mostly fiberglass, but it has been a long time since I touched one.

[oneshooter]

32. You are right. I was thinking of the

M72 which had a metal tube. Old age is a BITCH.

[Adrahil]

26. Expended single shot rocket launcher tubes....

... are not dangerous and cannot be re-used.

Let's not lose our minds over nothing.

[burrowowl]

28. No rocket with it?

[manicdem]

30. Guy made money

Some people collect used AT4 tubes and I've seen them sold for about $100. This guy got $500. Nice profit.