Guns purchased in buy-back programs must now be resold by Arizona municipalities instead of melted down and destroyed.
As of Monday Arizona cities will now be forced to resell the firearms collected in buy-back programs instead of sending them to be destroyed. Republican Governor Jan Brewer, who is an outspoken gun rights advocate, signed the bill which, according to Reuters, closes a “loophole in the conservative state’s laws.” Before this new law, the destruction of firearms obtained in these “popular civic events” had been common practice.
The bill, which was supported by the NRA and the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, was approved by the House in March, and then by an 18-12 Senate vote earlier this month. Opponents of the measure assert that the new law sends the “wrong message,” and that the legislature needs to be focusing on the “broader issue of gun control.” However, supporters of the bill insist that Arizona cities are, “wasting taxpayers’ money by not realizing the revenue from reselling turned-in weapons.”
State Senator Steve Gallardo, a staunch proponent of gun control legislation and a leading opponent to the new law said, “This action by the governor is not only outrageous, but it is insensitive for us now to be putting these guns back on the streets. That’s just plain wrong.”
The bill does not outline any type of penalties for municipalities which chose not to follow the new law, so what those may be or how they may be enforced is yet to be seen.
Photo: AP/Brian Skoloff
Because a gun is a terrible thing to waste.
But you think it’s OK for the authorities to convince low income or fixed income people to turn in their old, valuable guns for a fraction of its fair market value? Gun buy-backs should have to appraise all guns and pay fair market value.
A friend of a friend is a Chicago police officer, who has witnessed priceless, historic, and antique weapons being needlessly destroyed by mandatory gun buy-back programs in that hapless state. We’re talking museum-quality pieces from the 1800’s that could have potentially fetched tens of thousands of dollars, maybe much, much more on auction, raising money for cash-strapped municipalities. Yeah, there’s junk, too, but one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Even old, damaged arms may have value beyond mere scrap metal. And that’s about all that the state pays for those buyback programs. The reimbursement is seriously pathetic. It’s such… Read more »
So many problems with this I don’t know where to begin. Let me just focus on a very concrete practical issue: Some of the guns turned in may not be legal to own or to sell. Some of them may be legal but in such bad shape as to be dangerous to the user. Are police supposed to break the law when they sell guns? Are the cops not to be held liable when they sell someone an unsafe weapon? If the problem is that police departments are missing out on revenue, then they can sell tickets to the destruction… Read more »
Firstly the condition of a gun is relatively easy to check so no issue there.
Secondly have you cheked gun prices? A artist that could make profit by making sculptures from guns would not be a starving artist but a popular expensive artist.
Thirdly the guns can be shipped to other states/nations where they are legal.
So no practical issues here.
Fair enough. So, let’s say it’s clear to the customer that it’s a lousy gun and no one buys it. Can the cops destroy it then, or does it have to sit on a shelf in perpetuity? So, it’s a question of how MUCH money would be raised, not just the idea that the cops shouldn’t lose money. Okay. So, if the police could find a way to make more money than selling the guns, you would be okay with them doing that instead? For example, if the cops could get a famous artist to do it for free and… Read more »
If the gun is in a poor condition you obiviously lower its price or if its completely obsolete one can cut it and throw it into metal recycling.
Guns in poorer condition are often still good enough for training. Especially if you crawl in mud, swim through rivers, train melee, ect. You don’t have to be so careful with a cheap gun.
Well hypothetically if one figures out a ethical more profitable way to handle the issue one should do so.
However I won’t hold my breath with that one.