Plan to force MSP to fund destruction of firearms procured in buybacks passed House committee on party lines.

State Rep. Greg Markkanen on Tuesday voted against a plan to require most firearms seized as part of a gun buyback program to be destroyed, an effort that seems to be directly targeted at prohibiting the Michigan State Police from selling or trading firearms obtained through a buyback. The legislation passed the House Military, Veterans, and Homeland Security Committee along party lines.

“Democrats have decided that forcing taxpayers to pay for unwanted guns isn’t enough, now they want taxpayers to foot the bill for the destruction of perfectly good firearms as well,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “The inexplicable hatred of guns is taken to a new level with these bills. Firearms obtained through buyback usually have some value. But apparently, anything with a trigger component or any chance of shooting is so threatening to Democrats that the only option is to melt them down at taxpayer expense.”

Gun buyback programs have become a popular way to get illegally owned weapons off the street. The practice, primarily operated by municipalities and private organizations, usually leads to all firearms obtained through the buybacks being turned over to MSP. Under current law, MSP is permitted to conduct a public auction to facilitate a firearm sale to a legally eligible buyer, destroy the weapons, use the firearms for official purposes, or dispose of them in another lawful manner permitted by the MSP director.

House Bills 6144 – 6146 would require MSP to destroy all weapons voluntarily given to the department, through a buyback program or otherwise.

House Republicans argue that buyback programs, including the destruction of firearms, can be expensive. Auctioning off or finding alternative uses for some firearms can help offset those costs or help boost the bottom line for smaller agencies operating on tighter budgets. Additionally, some firearms obtained through a buyback may be viewed as a collector’s item. So, while they may not be able to be used by a law enforcement agency, collectors may have an interest in unique or antique firearms.

The plan now moves to the full House for further consideration.

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