Guns From High-Profile Shootings Had Same Origin

[scott.ballard]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,589192,00.html

Here's the first few paragraphs:

WASHINGTON —  Two guns used in high-profile shootings this year at the Pentagon and a Las Vegas courthouse both came from the same unlikely place: the police and court system of Memphis, Tenn.

Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that both guns were once seized in criminal cases in Memphis. The officials described how the weapons made their separate ways from an evidence vault to gun dealers and to the shooters.

The use of guns that were once in police custody to attack police officers highlights a little-known divide in gun policy in the U.S.: Many cities and states destroy guns gathered in criminal probes, but others sell or trade the weapons in order to get other guns or buy police equipment.



I'm not quite sure how to feel about this.  Confiscate and destroy so there can be no future liability...OR...Confiscate and use to better your department but buy the associated risk IF something happens.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,

[Ichiban]

If the guns were obtained legally (assume they were), then what does it matter what the serial number on the gun was?  Putting confiscated guns back into the (legal) gun distribution system makes them no different than ones that come from the factor, other than that fact the used guns are cheaper.  It also helps with the PD budget in these tough times.  If they came through a dealer that isn't following the law then that is a different matter all together.

FYI - the local PD just started doing this.  The sheriff has been doing it for years.  I talked to a FFL that previewed the stuff they had for sale (sold in bulk lots to highest bidding FFL) and he said he backed out.  Too much junk he couldn't sell.  Here I though the lowlifes all had top of the line Kimbers.   

[TAB]

gee... I've never said that LEAs selling guns would be a issuse...   



How the end user got the gun, does not matter, what matters is it came from the LEA.

[Pathfinder]

Drink deep the kool-aid, TAB.

This is a smokescreen, just like the "gun show loophole". There is absolutely nothing wrong with LEAs selling off confiscated arms through FFLs. It is only little minded people who think that somehow cops should destroy all of the guns they confiscate and then turn the odd coincidence back on the LEAs that are pushing this issue.

[fullautovalmet76]

I'm not quite sure how to feel about this.  Confiscate and destroy so there can be no future liability...OR...Confiscate and use to better your department but buy the associated risk IF something happens.

Anyone have any thoughts?

It's the same problem if the cops sell their cars and those cars are then used to commit bank robberies. Should the cops stop selling the cars in order to reduce bank robberies? A more proper understanding is the percentage of all firearms sold by cops that are used in crimes. I believe the percentage will be so small that it will hardly be worth the trouble of even estimating it.

[Sponsor]

[scott.ballard]

It's the same problem if the cops sell their cars and those cars are then used to commit bank robberies. Should the cops stop selling the cars in order to reduce bank robberies? A more proper understanding is the percentage of all firearms sold by cops that are used in crimes. I believe the percentage will be so small that it will hardly be worth the trouble of even estimating it.

Cars generally do not have the stigma associated with firearms.

I'm all for re-purposing a firearm after it has been rehabilitated while in police custody.  As long as it passes through an FFL and a NICS check is completed who cares where it came from?  Especially if it benefits the department or agency.

I'm wondering more if it is a bad idea for an agency to sell confiscated weapons and accept the risk. I agree that the risk is minimal so I think we'll see the more enlightened agencies sell them off to FFL holders.

Thanks,

[tombogan03884]

FA has a very good point, how many vehicles sold by local, state, and Federal Agencies have been used in Drunk driving offenses ?
This is an insignificant coincidence that supplies ideologically slanted filler for a slow news day.

[bulldog75]

For some small agencies that is the only way they will get tazers and other needed equipment. We traded off some old equipment for new stuff. Yes the gun store owner gave me first dibs on the equipment, because he knew me and he knew that I had carried and used the old S&W model 66 and Remington 870 on duty. They were traded for two brand new 870s. My leather gear and speed loaders were also included.

[twyacht]

LEA's auction all kind of seized crap, furniture, cars, boats, golf clubs, tools, and some firearms.

My Ruger Police Service Six, was sold to an FFL from the Oakland County, Ca, Sheriff's office when dept's were transitioning to semi-auto's.

I don't see a problem with LEA's including firearms in an auction through FFL's.  If the serial numbers are cleared, and re-assigned to a lawful purchaser, so what?

[MikeBjerum]

I had typed a reply earlier, but the gremlins ate it.  So, here it is again -

Do we ever hear about the cars that were seized in drug raids or DUI's that are sold and later show up in a DUI accident?  Or, how about the computers that are deemed surplus by a public entity, sold off at auction, and then later show up in a child on-line porn sting?

It is all about the user, and not the tools.  How about someone in the anti camp start addressing the real issue instead of getting the entire society chasing their tails.