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Government

Oops: Santa Fe Releases Names of Gun Buyback Participants After They Were Promised Anonymity

Feb. 21, 2013 6:55pm Madeleine Morgenstern

KRQE-TV

What was promised to be an anonymous gun buyback in New Mexico was anything but for dozens of people who surrendered their firearms to police and then saw their names and addresses entered into the public record.

Santa Fe police offered $100, $150, and $200 prepaid Visa gift cards for residents who wanted to turn in their rifles, shotguns, and handguns, KRQE-TV reported.

But organizers ran out of gift cards, and offered IOUs to people who still wanted to turn over their guns. They took down contact info — names, addresses, and phone numbers — that was meant to be used only to pay people back. In total, 49 people took IOUs at a buyback in January, and 43 took them at another one in February.

“With that IOU we’ll take down your name and contact information so that we could get them the money that the city owed them,” Santa Fe City Attorney Geno Zamora told the station.

The police department had budgeted $20,000 for the buybacks, but after running out of gift cards went to the city to request $33,000 for the next event in March. In doing so, it provided the city information on the buyback program, including the list of 92 people it owed money: their addresses, phone numbers, and the weapons the city bought from each one.

The information was put into a packet for the city council and, just like that, became public record.

“It shouldn’t have happened, but it did,” Santa Fe Police Chief Raymond Rael told KRQE. “I apologize on behalf of the city, I don’t think that information should’ve been out there.”

New Mexico state Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe.) was one person whose name was released.

Records show he sold the city three firearms in January. He said he wasn’t concerned about his name being released as much as about how it could affect future participation.

“My concern is for those who do wish to remain anonymous, that there be a way for them to do so and for them to be able to rely on the city’s assertion that they’ll remain anonymous,” Egolf told KRQE.

Zamora said the city is still trying to determine who is responsible for putting the information out. In the meantime, Rael said the department won’t be offering IOUs at the next buyback March 9.

“We’re going to offer nothing but the Visa cards, and once we’re out of them, we’re done,” he said.

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Comments (112)

shogun459
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 9:46am
Well OF COURSE they made the list known.

What, do you trust the Anti-2nd Amendment left to do what they say and to tell the truth?

Have you been off planet for the last 6 years?

Or are you terminally Stupid?

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- RDavis49
  Posted on February 22, 2013 at 10:06am
  I think “Terminally Stupid” fits anyone who trust the communist democrats and they’re the “Useful Idiots” of the Liberal, Socialist/Communist Democrat Party.
  
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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 9:07am
A promise means nothing among men any more. Get used to it I guess and remember that it means nothing.

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P4cooler
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 8:00am
We now know the names of our non-patriot Americans who will be useless in helping us fight for our freedoms. We know that you all are cowering under the Obama anti-gun frenzy and buy the media hype hook, line, & sinker. Not only are the low information crowd visible in Santa Fe…… You clowns provide an easy target for home invasion, theft, and robbery. Thanks for nothing, you Obama Kool Aid useless morons! You do not deserve to live in America. We are a nation of value producing citizens who believe in our rights and duty to prosper. We Americans are all crew – No Passengers on Freedom Ship America. The names should not have been published, but at least we know who the dead weight leaches are in Santa Fe. You better think about purchasing another firearm…. your chance of a home invasion is now high.

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HOLYSMOKES
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 7:42am
Another waste of taxpayer money by gov’t fools. is there anything Gov’t doesn’t screw up? How do IOU’s get recorded in the public record? It’s really almost a guarantee that whatever gov’t says it’s going to do, the opposite will happen.

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- RDavis49
  Posted on February 22, 2013 at 10:09am
  For 42 years I’ve heard the government saying, “If it isn’t broke, let’s fix it till it is”
  
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turbo
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 7:18am
The really nice firearms turned in seem to be missing from the display table.
But don’t worry, the new government LEO owners have been trained in their use and storage.

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jerryod1627
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:52am
A really good example of the sheep running to slaughter! What the hell is wrong with people, we have a communist in the White House who has publicly vowed to disarm all Americans and destroy the country and these idiots willingly surrender their weapons?

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:11am
I want a buy back of politicians, we’ll give you $150, and we elect somebody else to take your place? How about it President Obama?

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chicago76
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 3:53am
Just a thought. How does anyone know how many guns were really sold? It would be very easy to pad your bank account with this program. I mean, couldn’t those police officers simply take a few of those visa cards for themselves. No records, guns are destroyed

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lassiegirldawn
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:20am
Idiot fools, they actually believed the police??? Serves them right for being so stupid.

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Chancellor
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:21am
P.S. For those of you interested in Niagra Falls, NY. On Feb 23 they are having a gun buyback at the firehall from noon to 5 pm.

It is the right kind of neighbohood for some great deals!

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Chancellor
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:16am
Yea right just like registering your guns will set you free……….To pay insurance and have your name put in newprint!

If the government tells me the sky is blue…….I’m going outside to check!

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Lt_Scrounge
Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:14am
We need to start hitting the buybacks like the folks in Seattle did last month. Dozens of collectors showed up with “cash for guns” signs, and bought every decent gun that came along. One guy even had donuts and coffee to attract people. I wonder how the people who traded in the few decent guns on the table would like it if the new they could’ve gotten hundreds more by simply selling them? There aren’t many decent pistols in the picture, but I do see at least one S&W revolver, a Colt detective special ($500 in decent condition) a bull barrel Ruger Mark II, A Walther P22, and a Ruger semi auto model unknown. Then there is at least one AK. They’re going for $600+ on Gunbroker.

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Skrewedretiree
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:51pm
There is no privacy in the Obamanation.

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klopnuts
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:30pm
at least they got all thoserevolvers and bolt action rifles off the street. the one AK is a nice touch. i bet thats one of the three Rep Egolf turned in.

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zombieocracy
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:26pm
First, I am glad to see guns out of the hands of anyone who would trade them for gift cards. Second, this is why I never go to Santa Fe. What a cesspool of liberalism!

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greeneyesred
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:13pm
I was born and raised in Santa Fe…I am 100% Spanish Conservative Catholic Gunowner American Woman…This Senattor Egolf cried earlier because a bill for passing gay marriage did not go through…My brother was gay and he said he’d never marry a woman and much less a man…This buy back program is a farse just like every liberal agenda…I live in an area where If I screamed no one would hear me…I have several neighbors that are women and live alone and every single one of them has a firearm to protect them….Gun control is being able to hit your target….

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deltaecho
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:02pm
EEEEE – GOLLLLLLFF! Ya numbnut – ya musta really needed that $200, right? Fer wut? A happy ending?

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Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 9:39pm
The idiots who voluntarily turned in their firearms got EXACTLY what they deserved: Broken promises!

The lesson here: Never, EVER trust the government, local or otherwise, to do right. Nuff said?

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MeteoricLimbo
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 9:28pm
Yeah right

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TRILO
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 9:20pm
What a bunch of dopes. The buyback program was just listed as a budget expenditure for the police department. The IOU’s became a promissory note obligating the city to a future payment. Therefore, any money owed by the city and to who it is owed becomes public information. By the numbers provided the police chief could have obligated the taxpayers a nice hefty bill of $18,500 if all 92 people who took IOU are owed $200.

And this police chief is responsible for being in charge of taxpayer money and developing departmental budgets?

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dumpsterdog
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 9:16pm
Now everyone knows who is unarmed. Gee, think of all of the crimes that have been prevented because these idiots sold their weapons for peanuts.

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VetMike
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 8:58pm
This was not a mistake. Someone in the police/city hierarchy deliberately released the names. Now the criminals know who has been disarmed. Congratulations Santa Fe.

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rEt_fiELdoP
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 8:53pm
Truly incredible for LIV’s to go for such a program as this. Without doubt, my question is ‘who wins this one?’ Surely not the citizen and surely not Five O types… A list generated by an agency now in the hands of ppl who are willing to do harm: mmmmm, two guesses and one doesn’t count.

Totally absurb for anyone who is a legal (and responsible) owner to present themselves with their weapon(s) to be sold for a value less than what is actual. Look at the guns on the table and tell me there is a single weapon that is worth less than $100. I suspect not one…

Idiots looking for quick money that will surely be gone before the end of the month.

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stumpy68
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 8:53pm
Rep. Brian Egolf
Ok which is it did this guy have stolen guns he wanted ti dump
or was he stupid enough to sell his guns at foolishly low
prices??? either way i wouldn’t want him representing me
.

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EnemiesWithinWillNOTPrevail
Posted on February 21, 2013 at 8:41pm
Barry and the thugs would love to rule our every move. I bet they gave them a year of entitlements too. Morons. They must be blind and incapable of comprehending truth. God Bless America.

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