Gun buybacks are nothing of the sort. The term “buyback” implies that they really belonged to the entity conducting the “buyback” and they’re just trying to purchase those goods back. As they never did, the term doesn’t really apply.

However, let’s also be real. We all know what a “buyback” is. It’s a pathetic attempt to take guns off the streets so politicians or activists can look like they’re addressing violent crime without actually addressing violent crime.

Often, the number of guns taken at some of these things is ridiculously low. It’s almost laughable.

A “buyback” in Rochester, NY, however, got a surprising number of guns.

Rochester-area residents turned in 548 firearms during a gun buyback event held this past weekend at the Church of Love Faith Center, organized by New York Attorney General Letitia James in partnership with the Rochester Police Department.

The event aimed to reduce gun violence by providing a safe and anonymous way for residents to surrender unwanted firearms in exchange for compensation.

Participants received up to $500 for assault rifles, $250 for handguns and $75 for rifles or shotguns. Non-working and homemade guns were also accepted for $25 each.

Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo said the event provided amnesty for those looking to safely dispose of firearms they no longer wanted.

“This is a way where not only if a resident comes across a firearm somewhere, they can dispose of it, but there’s oftentimes a loved one who has passed away, and a relative has become in possession of firearms and they’re not sure what to do with them,” he said. “Or maybe there’s a sportsman that has fire or long guns that they’re just not using anymore.”

The fact that they only offered $25 for “homemade” guns is probably because some of us are evil enough to 3D print a pile of guns, take them, and get a bunch of money for them.

On the other hand, if so-called ghost guns are the great scourge we’ve been told, wouldn’t you want to get those off the streets even more than some of these other firearms?

Now, as for what was gotten, there aren’t any really good photographs of what was brought in. The one picture shows a buttload of revolvers, for example, and a number of long guns, most of which don’t count as “assault weapons” even under New York’s definitions.

In fact, they admit to only getting 32 of these evil firearms.

Do you know what they didn’t do in Rochester? Anything of substance, that’s what.

Study after study has shown that these so-called buybacks don’t actually impact violent crime at all. That’s because criminals aren’t giving up their guns for a measly couple hundred bucks. Not when a lot of them are actually carrying a gun because they’re worried about being shot themselves. It’s also not when it’s sort of the “tools of the trade.” They’re not giving those guns up.

People have tried to make the arguments that they can be made to work, but they really can’t.

I’m curious, though, about how many people bought a bunch of Hi-Points and then sold them at this just to turn a profit. I know I damn sure would have if I’d had the chance.