Posted on 12/06/2019 10:11:11 AM PST by Perseverando
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has thousands of confiscated firearms stored in their facilities, according to Chief Kerr Putney.
In an interview with WBTV anchor Molly Grantham, Putney explained why the department is keeping the confiscated guns locked behind closed doors when some of the firearms could be sold to vendors.
“I don’t want to be responsible for having one of those weapons take a life here in Charlotte when we could have done something that’s within our purview because of a law enforcement reason to keep that from happening and that’s what I stand by,” said Putney.
The police chief said his department currently has around 18,000 guns safely stored in CMPD facilities.
Legislation in North Carolina regulates what law enforcement agencies are allowed to do with confiscated firearms.
According to the 2013 law, law enforcement has multiple options when it comes to the handling of the confiscated firearms that are no longer needed for a trial or an investigation and don’t have a rightful owner.
The legislation dictates that law enforcement can destroy a confiscated firearm, but only if it is unsafe to use the gun or the gun no longer has an identification number. The law also states that a law enforcement agency can sell the confiscated firearm to federally licensed firearm dealers. A third option allows for law enforcement to keep confiscated guns for training or experimental purposes. The guns can also be donated to a museum or historical society.
“The law is pretty clear. They want vendors to be able to resell guns,” said Putney. “I think it’s wrong-headed. I’m never gonna break the law, but I am gonna say we have a law enforcement reason where we shouldn’t be adding more weapons to the hands of young people.”
When questioned about the legality of his decision to keep the confiscated firearms locked away, Putney defended the department’s actions, citing a ‘law enforcement reason’ as the reason why CMPD is keeping the guns behind closed doors. He maintains that he is following the law.
“There’s a law enforcement reason why I’m not putting them out there. Mainly, it is to make sure our people are trained and understand what they’re dealing with when they encounter weapons and because I think it is a public safety hazard to keep putting more and more guns that we’re seizing, many of which were illegal that we’re seizing, and then turning them back and reselling them.”
Police say many of the confiscated guns are stolen firearms.
This story will be updated.
Up until the early 00s, Charlotte was an ok place.
I avoid the area and don’t go unless absolutely necessary.
sounds like the chief is more concerned about protecting criminals than allowing citizens to protect themselves judging by his moronic statement- and yes, life in such an area will quickly deteriorate- it’s a proven fact thaT armed citizens reduces crime- something this chief apparent is ignorant of
Wouldn’t doubt it.
He probably gets a pass from the media. The WBT 1110 of old would have someone on air talking about him.
I haven’t listened to WBT in many years. Maybe someone does.
Why aren’t a lot of them returned to the rightful owners they were stolen from?
That would require honest work, correct accounting, and would ruin the plan for those weapons to find new homes.
Easier to phony records, destroy some scrap and cronies get some new toys.
How many of them will be deemed too valuable to destroy and wind up in the Chief’s personal collection, or quietly issued to pol buddies?
Nice chiefie says he will never break the law.
But he does break the law because it is not in his legal powers or authority to determine who can buy a gun.
That is set by our representatives in government, elected by our votes and overseen by the ATF.
All of his BS can’t hide the fact that he is a gun grabber.
I would not doubt that many of the firearms were taken from criminals. The question is, “Were they traced back to their lawful owners?”
That is all his is doing. Substituting new guns for old, and preventing the city from getting the revenue.
I wonder how many of these firearms will eventually end up in officers’ private collections?
Only the expensive ones. The cheap ones will be used as throw down weapons to frame innocent civilians.
There was an episode on the excellent "Blue Knight" TV series where beat cop "Bumper Morgan" tells of a popular officer who shot an unarmed crook.
To prevent his crucifixion, his buddies on the scene placed a throwaway under the perp's body. When the coroner rolled him over, seven guns were discovered.
Since these episodes were written by a real cop, I have no reason to believe that it didn't happen.
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