The irony of these gun buybacks is that for the most part the only people disarming themselves are the ones who already respect the law. As a result, the ratio of [illegal guns in the hands of thugs] to [unarmed and unprotected citizens] climbs even higher. The police are NOT doing themselves or the public any favors, and the thugs see the the odds improving for themselves.
Okay, a FEW illegal guns probably get turned in, but the percentage is quite small. What crook in his right mind would go NEAR such a collection of officers, even if a few gift cards were the possible outcome? And any smart police department will be watching the event VERY closely, even if they SAY it's anonymous. Most will collect ballistics data from each and every gun they take, and compare those ballistics to unsolved crimes. See here:
JURIST - Paper Chase: Phoenix police holds gun buyback before gun resale law takes effect (they DO collect ballistics)
The Jersey City Independent» Featured News » Jersey City’s Latest Gun Buyback Takes in 164 Weapons (they DO collect ballistics, but it's very rare to connect a buyback gun to a crime)
So if you have a legal gun, and want to voluntarily disarm yourself, PM anyone on this thread and I'm sure they can work out a VERY equitable deal to give you MUCH more for your weapon than the police ever would... and you'll know it's going to a loving home where it will be cherished and stored in a proper gun safe and only used to protect a family, instead of being melted down and doing nobody any good.