Thread: New law allows Police to sell seized guns, most decline offer

New law allows Police to sell seized guns, most decline offer

Posted: Aug 28, 2013 5:13 PM PDT
By Greg Groogan, Special Projects Reporter

HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
Buried inside Rosenberg's Police Headquarters you will find a vault filled with lawfully confiscated firearms.

Guns of all sizes from Kalashnikovs to Colt .45's, many with have an ugly history.
"Some have been involved in crimes. Some have been involved in suicides," said Tracie Dunn of the Rosenberg Police Department.

All are slated for destruction, even the so called "good stuff" with genuine value.

Dunn points to a never fired "Street Sweeper" 9 millimeter weapon with a 100 round drum magazine, still in it's original box.

In the past law enforcement had little choice but to store or destroy, but beginning September 1st local agencies across the state have a new option courtesy of the Texas legislature.

A new law allows police to sell seized weapons to licensed dealers and plow the proceeds back into their departments.

Rosenberg P.D. is passing on the opportunity.

"You don't where its going to go even with all the protocols, all the security, it still may end up in the wrong person's hands and I don't want that on my conscience.

A gun that ends up doing a crime and it came from our department," said Dunn who full supports her Department's firearm destruction policy.

FOX 26 contacted more than a dozen Houston area police departments and none plan to sell guns as a result of the new law. Most publicly said this concept is a bad idea.

Bellaire Police chief Byron Holloway offered an alternative perspective.

"I have a safe full of legal narcotics that were being illegally possessed. I'm not going to take those legal narcotics and auction them off to pharmacies," said Holloway.

Holloway, who lost an officer to gunfire just 8 months ago, says any financial gain of re-circulating weapons is hardly worth the enormous risk.

"It's almost like that gun is tainted, that gun has a history now and to sell it out of your property room and six months or a year later find out that gun was used in another crime it almost defeats the purpose. You are not doing anything to insure the safety of your officers out there," said Holloway

So to any at the capitol who care to listen the overwhelming message from those in the Houston area who enforce the law appears to be "Thanks, but no thanks".


http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/23...#ixzz2dNaswdaS

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