Posted on 12/28/2015 8:57:18 AM PST by marktwain
This bill will prohibit seized firearms not used in the commission of a felony from being destroyed by law enforcement agencies. These firearms, so long as they are in operable condition, would either be sold to a licensed gun dealer (FFL) or donated to hunter education programs. In addition, it would also mandate that if a firearm has been seized by law enforcement and the owner is acquitted of the charges or the charges are dropped, the firearm must be returned to the owner within thirty days.The Wichita Police Department was going to sell the accumulated firearms to Budsgunshop.com, one of the biggest gun retailers on the web. From kansas.com in February of 2015
More than 200 guns, of various makes and models, will be available on BudsGunShop.com for purchase by licensed firearm dealers, said Elizabeth Harlenske, assistant city attorney.But something must have happened to scuttle those plans, because the Wichita Police are now going to auction the guns to one or more dealers. From kwch.com on December 22, 2015:
Licensed federal firearms dealers get them first and are free to sell the weapons just like any other.There hasn't been a date set for the auction. It will likely be in 2016. As with many cities, the handguns collected outnumber long guns. There are about 170 handguns, and 50 long guns to be auctioned . Here is a sample of the handguns listed.
Tuesday the Wichita city council took the first step toward organizing a dealer auction of almost 200 handguns and rifles for the Wichita Police Department. Among those guns are weapons used in crimes from 1997 to 2015.
It is likely that most of the guns are from old domestic protection order cases. The law was reformed in 2014 to require police to return guns or other weapons to owners who were not convicted of any crime. This stops the "legalized theft" of firearms, where departments required individuals to obtain a court order to have their firearms returned. Often, the cost of the court order was more than the firearm was worth. Now, as part of Kansas statute 22-2512(d) :
(d) If a weapon is seized from an individual and the individual is not convicted of or adjudicated as a juvenile offender for the violation for which the weapon was seized, then within 30 days after the declination or conclusion of prosecution of the case against the individual, including any period of appeal, the law enforcement agency that seized the weapon shall verify that the weapon is not stolen, and upon such verification shall notify the person from whom it was seized that the weapon may be retrieved. Such notification shall include the location where such weapon may be retrieved.This reform will reduce the number of firearms available for auction in the future. Looking over the list of firearms to be auctioned, I saw a number that were listed as "returned to owner".
I would like to see it for all property. It used to be common sense.
It should be added to the law, that if the police department does not return the firearm, in the same condition as when it was seized, then the head of the department must be charged with theft.
They should sell them at PUBLIC AUCTION to the public, federal laws enforced.
They will get nearly new prices and sometimes more for them!
People lose all sense of value when guns are auctioned off,m bidding up even junk guns to more than new prices.
We want them all. Let’s put in 3 dollar bids, and maybe some get to us.
Why does the owner of the gun have to travel to some inconvenient location, probably with long delays, in order to retrieve his firearm?
Seems to me that if the police came out to his house and took it away to start with, they can jolly well make an appointment and deliver it back to the rightful owner.
I’ll pay $50 for that USP Compact.
I'm making a $3.01 bid. So I'll get them all.
(Maybe I shouldn't have revealed my plans to you...)
Could be some wheel guns worth bidding on:
S/W 44
Dan Wesson .357
S/A 1911A1 .45
Ruger Security-Six and Speed-Six
Colt 1903 .32 among others.
Lew
Well, I had to look up deodand. If you are harmed by this news you cannot have my laptop.
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