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LA Gun Buyback 2013: More Than 1,100 Firearms Turned In

Angelenos Turn In Their Guns
Los Angeles Daily News
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The weekend's gun buyback program resulted in more than 1,100 firearms being turned in, bringing to 11,151 the total number of weapons turned in during the eight years it has been operated under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Villaraigosa praised the public response to the program, funded this year with $250,000 from the city's general fund, as the mayor lamented the lack of action by Congress in toughening the nation's gun laws.

"We will not let inaction in Washington stop us from taking action here in Los Angeles to get guns off our streets," Villaraiogsa said.

In past years, Villaraigosa has raised money from private sources to fund the program, which provides gift cards to the Ralphs Markets for those who turn in guns.

This was the second buyback held in recent months. Villaraigosa sponsored one after the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

In all, this past weekend saw 516 handguns, 381 rifles and 49 assault weapons turned in.

The gun buyback also kicks off the city's summer anti-gang programs, including the Summer Night Lights program at city parks.

(c)2013 the Daily News (Los Angeles)

Visit the Daily News (Los Angeles) at www.dailynews.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

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Before You Go

Five Years, 19 Mass Shootings, No Action
December 14, 2012 -- Newtown, Conn. -- 27 dead (including gunman)(01 of21)
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The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday was the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, leaving 27 dead -- including 20 young children. President Obama gave an emotional address, calling for "meaningful action":
As a country we have been through this too many times. Whether it is an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago -- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. We're going to have to come together to meaningful action on this, regardless of the politics.
 (credit:AP)
September 27, 2012 -- Minneapolis, Minn. -- 7 dead (including gunman), 2 injured(02 of21)
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Andrew John Engeldinger, a recently laid off employee of Accent Signage Systems, entered the office building and opened fire.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
August 5, 2012 -- Oak Creek, Wis. -- 7 dead (including gunman), 4 injured(03 of21)
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White supremacist Wade Michael Page entered a Sikh Temple, opening fire on congregants. He later shot and injured a police officer responding to the scene.Presidential reaction:
Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. At this difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded.
My Administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation. As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family.
 (credit:AP)
July 20, 2012 -- Aurora, Colo. -- 12 dead, 59 injured (04 of21)
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During a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," a gunman opened fire on the suburban Denver movie theater, killing 12 and injuring dozens of others. Two days later, Obama delivered a ten-minute speech from the University of Colorado that made no mention of gun control:
God bless all who helped to respond to this tragedy. And I hope that over the next several days, next several weeks, and next several months, we all reflect on how we can do something about some of the senseless violence that ends up marring this country, but also reflect on all the wonderful people who make this the greatest country on Earth.
 (credit:AP)
May 31, 2012 -- Seattle, Wash. -- 6 dead (including gunman)(05 of21)
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A man opened fire in a cafe, fatally wounding four people, then killed another in a carjacking before killing himself.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
April 2, 2012 -- Oakland, Calif. -- 7 dead(06 of21)
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A former student of Oikos University, a Korean college, entered a building on the campus and shot repeatedly at random targets.(No public comments from the president) (credit:AP)
February 22, 2012 -- Norcross, Ga. -- 5 dead (including gunman) (07 of21)
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A man shot and killed two of his sisters and their husbands and then himself in a Korean health spa. (No public comments from the president.)
October 12, 2011 -- Seal Beach, Calif. -- 8 dead, 1 injured (08 of21)
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Scott Evans Dekraai, 41, stormed a hair salon where his ex-wife worked and killed eight people. (No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
January 8, 2011 -- Tucson, Ariz. -- 6 dead, 14 injured (09 of21)
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Jared Lee Loughner, 22, opened fire in a Safeway parking lot, killing six people and injuring others including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at point-blank range.Two months later, Obama addressed gun control issues in an op-ed for the Arizona Daily Star:
I know that every time we try to talk about guns, it can reinforce stark divides. People shout at one another, which makes it impossible to listen. We mire ourselves in stalemate, which makes it impossible to get to where we need to go as a country. However, I believe that if common sense prevails, we can get beyond wedge issues and stale political debates to find a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place.
 (credit:AP)
August 3, 2010 -- Manchester, Conn. -- 9 dead (including gunman), 2 injured(10 of21)
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A driver for Hartford Distributors killed eight people and then himself in this workplace shooting. (No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
November 29, 2009 -- Parkland, Wash. -- 5 dead (including gunman)(11 of21)
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A Washington man walked into a coffee shop and shot four police officers execution-style.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
November 5, 2009 -- Fort Hood, Texas -- 13 dead, 30 injured (including gunman)(12 of21)
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In the deadliest shooting to ever happen on an American military base, an Army Major serving as a psychiatrist went on a shooting spree that killed 13. Obama said at a press conference:
This morning I met with FBI Director Mueller and the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what caused one individual to turn his gun on fellow servicemen and women. We don't know all of the answers yet, and I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all of the facts.
 (credit:AP)
April 3, 2009 -- Binghamton, N.Y. -- 14 dead (including gunman), 4 injured (13 of21)
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Jiverly Wong, a naturalized immigrant from Vietnam, gunned down students and employees at the American Civic Association, where he had been taking English lessons.President Obama said in a statement:
Michelle and I were shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the act of senseless violence in Binghamton, N.Y. today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and the people of Binghamton. We don't yet know all the facts, but my administration is actively monitoring the situation, and the vice president is in touch with Governor Paterson and local officials to track developments.
 (credit:AP)
March 10, 2009 -- Geneva County, Ala. -- 11 dead (including gunman), 6 injured(14 of21)
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A 28-year-old man killed his mother then drove ten miles to kill several members of his extended family, neighbors and a bystander. The victims ranged in age from 18 months to 74 years old. (No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
March 29, 2009 -- Carthage, N.C. -- 8 dead, 3 injured (including gunman) (15 of21)
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A gunman opened fire on a nursing home, killing seven residents and a nurse.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
June 25, 2008 -- Henderson, Ky. -- 6 dead (including gunman), 1 injured (16 of21)
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After an argument with his boss at the Atlantis plastics plant, Wesley N. Higdon, 25, killed five colleagues and then himself.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
February 14, 2008 -- DeKalb, Ill. -- 6 dead (including gunman, 21 injured)(17 of21)
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A former Northern Illinois University student, 27-year-old Steven Phillip Kazmierczak, opened fire on the campus, killing five people then himself. George W. Bush spoke with school president John Peters and told him "that a lot of folks today will be praying for the families of the victims and for the Northern Illinois University community. Obviously a tragic situation on that campus and I ask our citizens to offer their blessings, blessings of comfort and blessing of strength."Then an Illinois senator and presidential candidate, Barack Obama said in a statement that "we must also offer ... our determination to do whatever it takes to eradicate this violence from our streets and our schools; from our neighborhoods and our cities." (credit:AP)
February 7, 2008 -- Kirkwood, Mo. -- 7 dead (including gunman), 1 injured (18 of21)
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A gunman opened fire on a public meeting in the city hall, killing six people before he was shot and killed by police.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
December 5, 2007 -- Omaha, Neb. -- 9 dead (including gunman)(19 of21)
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Robert A. Hawkins, 19, went on a shooting spree at the Westroads Mall, killing eight people and then himself.George W. Bush had been visiting Omaha for a fundraiser but left the city just an hour before the shooting took place. "Having just visited with so many members of the community in Omaha today, the president is confident that they will pull together to comfort one another as they deal with this terrible tragedy," the White House said in a statement. (credit:AP)
October 7, 2007 -- Crandon, Wis. -- 7 dead (including gunman), 1 injured(20 of21)
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Tyler Peterson, 20, killed six people, including his ex-girlfriend, at a post-homecoming party.(No public comments from the president.) (credit:AP)
April 16, 2007 -- Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg, Va. -- 33 dead (including gunman), 23 injured(21 of21)
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Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at the school, shot and killed 32 of his classmates before committing suicide. George W. Bush addressed the nation:
I've spoken with Governor Tim Kaine and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger. I told them that Laura and I and many across our nation are praying for the victims and their families and all the members of the university community who have been devastated by this terrible tragedy. I told them that my administration would do everything possible to assist with the investigation, and that I pledged that we would stand ready to help local law enforcement and the local community in any way we can during this time of sorrow.
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