People who wish to turn over guns to their local governments to have them destroyed won't have that option in a few months.
Governor Jan Brewer recently signed the bill that prevents the government destruction of guns obtained in buyback programs, as the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department just held perhaps the biggest gun buyback event -- with gun-destruction included -- this past weekend.
See also:
-Phoenix Police Took in at Least 800 Guns in Latest Buyback
-City of Phoenix Gun-Buyback Program Not Affected by New Law, for Now
-Jan Brewer Signs Bill for Gun Rights (As in Giving the Rights to the Guns)
-Mayor Stanton, Unveils Gun-Buyback Program in State of the City Address
Phoenix PD, taking part in a gun buyback that used private funds to give people grocery-store gift cards in exchange for their guns, told New Times yesterday that it looks like at least 800 guns were taken in.
Now, it would seem that the new law -- which specifically bans agencies from "facilitat[ing] the destruction of a firearm," and instead forces them to turn around and sell the guns to dealers -- completely defeats the purpose of the gun buybacks, as the intent of the programs is for the owner to get the gun off the streets.
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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.