Modest Proposal : ‘Turn in a Gun and We’ll Give You Tickets’

We live at a time where it’s hard not to notice the increasing violence around us. The local news has turned into body counts. (But) we all get wrapped up in our own world(s) and we’ve become hardened to what’s going on. The issue of guns and young people (had) been on my mind for a number of months. Last summer, I saw a program of tickets-for-guns started in Denver by the Colorado Rockies. Ticketmaster (began) a pilot tickets-for-guns program in Albuquerque. I was astounded at the number and size of guns that came in.

The thing that motivated me to action in Los Angeles was the awful story on Halloween of the three children who were (shot and killed) trick-or-treating (in Pasadena). I have young children and I tried to relate to that, to comprehend that as a parent, and it was very difficult.

I care a lot about Los Angeles. People should be free where they live. People should not be afraid to walk down the street. People should understand what the meaning of community is. I’m angry because we’re losing our ability to have any kind of civilization. It’s “Blade Runner” 1994. I’m reminded of the line from “Network”--”I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more!” Edmund Burke said: “It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.” I felt we had to take a pro-active stand.

Running a company like this gives you access to people and the ability to raise resources. I spoke to Rupert Murdock and people at a number of other companies who said they would get involved. I met with Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief Willie Williams and, essentially, what we want to do is start a program that says if you turn in a gun, we’ll give you two tickets to anything you want to see and the gun will be destroyed.

It takes everybody to make this city a little better. This is not about who you are or what you are. Do you want your children to have an environment they can live in? (That’s what) it’s about. We’re facing this today.

What do our children face 20 years from now? You have to start somewhere and we will take this step. I guess what I want out of this is for the good people of this city to stand up and say, “That’s great! What can I do?”