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MavKikiNYC · 03-01-2006, 10:44 AM

76ers announce guns-for-tickets program

03:49 PM CST on Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers and police officials Tuesday announced a program aimed at curbing gun violence by exchanging tickets for guns.

The one-week program opens Wednesday. Anyone can bring a working gun into a city police station and exchange it for a voucher good for a pair of tickets to an upcoming 76ers game, no questions asked.

"If we get one (gun), it's a successful program," said Billy King, the team's president. "If we get one, if we get a thousand, whatever we get that's going to be good enough."

Sitting at a table with 15 guns ranging from semiautomatic rifles to tiny, easily concealed handguns, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said the program wasn't only for illegal guns. He would be happy if law-abiding citizens turned in their firearms, too.

"Any gun that can kill needs to be taken off the streets," Johnson said.

The city's murder rate spiked last year and is on a similar pace in 2006. There were 380 homicides in the city in 2005 – the highest total in five years. There were 44 homicides in the city from Jan. 1 through Monday, just slightly off last year's pace.

The program is similar to one the 76ers ran in 1999. "Guns for Gear" brought in close to 900 guns in just three days.

The 76ers aren't the first NBA team to run such a program. The Denver Nuggets traded tickets for guns for several years as part of the "Operation Cease Fire" program in the mid to late '90s.

Arne · 03-01-2006, 11:00 AM

I'm lovin' it.

orangedays · 03-01-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavKikiNYC

The one-week program opens Wednesday. Anyone can bring a working gun into a city police station and exchange it for a voucher good for a pair of tickets to an upcoming 76ers game, no questions asked.

I love that part, I can almost see the reporter winking as they wrote that. Man walks in with a recently-fired gun, blood on his shirt, requests a pair of tickets. What do you do?

EricaLubarsky · 03-01-2006, 12:36 PM

every time I've shot someone, I've wanted to go to an NBA game- its like smoking after sex. Besides, if I go in my NBA jersey covered with blood, people think Im paying homage to Fiddy Cent

Thespiralgoeson · 03-01-2006, 07:45 PM

The Sixers have been pretty disappointing this year. I'd rather keep my gun.

Arne · 03-01-2006, 08:21 PM

How many of you guys possess a gun?

sixeightmkw · 03-01-2006, 08:40 PM

do rifles and shotguns count? if so, me with about 6

Evilmav2 · 03-01-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne

How many of you guys possess a gun?

I've got a couple, the best of which is a 1930's military issued Colt model 1911.

I'm not married and I sure as heck don't have any kids, but this beaten up, but well-maintained war-horse will eventually belong to my first-born son...

EricaLubarsky · 03-01-2006, 11:52 PM

I've got one on each arm

u2sarajevo · 03-01-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne

How many of you guys possess a gun?

I possess several guns. Three Deer rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, a Kimber Ultra Carry II (.45), and my absolute favorite is my Beretta Model 92G - Brigadier Elite semiautomatic pistol.

orangedays · 03-01-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I've got one on each arm

J.D.: Hey, you going to the weight room later? I might be able to get you two tickets!
Doc: To what?
J.D.: [showing off his muscles] To the gun show, dawg!

Arne · 03-02-2006, 06:28 AM

Man, you guys could form the dallas-mavs.com-army...

But seriously how do you get a gun in America, what about a shooting license and stuff like that. And how much do you pay for a simple gun?

Thespiralgoeson · 03-02-2006, 06:50 AM

LMAO! Guys, I think we're really re-inforcing the negative American stereotype to Arne here. Don't worry Arne. We're not ALL loud-mouthed, overfed, gun-toting cowboys! (Just in the south

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