Free Republic

27 years ago, Washington state passed a bill requiring the Washington State Police to sell valuable firearms rather than destroying them. Provisions were made for the destruction of firearms which could not be legally owned. For political reasons, local law enforcement agencies were not included. In some of those jurisdictions, such as the Yakima Police Department and Vancouver Police department, all guns are destroyed for political reasons.A bill to allow the State Police to destroy legal guns passed the House in the Washington state legislature on 23 January 2020. Selling or not selling the guns has no effect on the...

Screenshot from Fox 23 report on April 16, 2019 U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- In April, two Oklahoma law enforcement departments auctioned off guns they had accumulated. The guns had not been used in crimes, but were seized for a variety of reasons. They were turned into the police by people who did not want them. They were seized from prohibited possessors. They were forfeited as part of plea deals. Oklahoma County auctioned off about 500 firearms they had collected. The guns were sold to dealers with federal firearms licenses (FFL).Tulsa County auctioned off over 700 firearms. They collected $129,000 from the auction....

The most famous firearms manufacturer in Australia is the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. On the grounds of the existing factory site is the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum. The Museum is independently owned and operated, primarily by volunteers, as an independent trust on behalf of the City of Lithgow. Just a few weeks ago, the museum learned that 70 percent of its collection is at risk of being destroyed because of a thoughtless change in firearms law passed in 2017, specifically aimed at museums. Museums were not contacted about the change in the law. They had no input about...

Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- Utah has joined the growing list of states that forbid the destruction of valuable firearms. The law is as rational as can be. Why destroy valuable property when it can be sold and the proceeds used for the public good?Why destroy perfectly legal guns so that gun manufacturers can make more profits? If older guns are destroyed, there are plenty of new guns to meet the demand. Utah's new law went into effect on January 1, 2017.From stgeorgeutah.com: Another new law says authorities can sell abandoned guns or give them to a firearms dealer for sale or to...

There is something unhealthy about a city administration that lists destroying valuable property as one of its highest priorities. That is the case with Savannah, Georgia. According to WTOC, Savannah, Georgia has a great many important issues on their plate. After considerable effort, they whittled down their list to their six highest priorities. Bold added.  From wtoc.com: The city has had a lot of issues, but city council members managed to narrow them down to a list of just six items. This list includes addressing the on-going blight issues, dramatic increases to commercial property taxes, improving transparency with the...

On November 16, 2016, the government of Kenya destroyed 5,250 guns.  The method used was fire. It isn’t that guns are not valued in Kenya.  Villages in Kenya are being raided for slaves by al Shabaab, an African affiliate of ISIS. They have sworn allegiance to the new Caliphate in the middle east. Kenya has allied with other govenments to fight them. Al Shabaab loudly proclaims its Islamic right to raid, kill, and enslave unbelievers.But the Kenya government does not trust the villagers with any guns, even single shot muzzle-loaders, let along AK47 rifles. From africanews.com: Somalia’s insurgent group...

Under Michigan law, the Michigan State Police (MSP) are required to publish a list of the firearms that they intend to dispose of each month.  Agencies in Michigan are required to turn over to the State Police firearms that have been forfeited or confiscated from prohibited possessors.The firearms are checked to see if they have been reported stolen.  If they have not been reported stolen, the MSP are required to dispose of them.  Before they are disposed of, the list of firearms has to be published each month.  Owners of the firearms are given 30 days to contact the...