State Rep. Annette Glenn’s plan to ensure Michigan’s hard-working taxpayers are not paying for ineffective gun buyback programs was approved today by the Michigan House.

“Purchasing personal private property from citizens is simply not the proper role of government,” Glenn, R-Midland, said. “There is no research to show buyback programs reduce crime. However, there is research that shows criminals tend to steer clear of these types of programs and that gun owners use these programs to turn in broken and unwanted guns and use the money received to purchase new guns and more ammunition.

“It is inappropriate to use our limited public resources, provided by our hard-working taxpayers, to buy broken, unwanted, and unused guns from private citizens.

“Individuals are still welcome to turn in their unwanted or old firearms to local law enforcement.

“My plan will not prevent programs such as the takeback program in Midland, where people can drop off their guns willingly without monetary exchange.

“If a gun owner wishes to sell a firearm, they can and should turn to private sector buyers. Let the free market decide the supply and demand value of the firearm. It would be wrong to force the owners of Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, Williams Gun Shop, Suderman’s Shooting Supply, Midtown Pawn, and other gun dealers in my district – each of whom has invested hard-earned money out of their own pocket to start a business – to find themselves in competition with a unit of government that’s unfairly using their own tax dollars to compete against them.

“It is important to note, this plan will not prevent private and nonprofit groups from hosting gun buyback programs if they so choose.”

HB 5479 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.