New Michigan Law Mandates Complete Destruction of Guns Collected in Buyback Programs
In a move aimed at tightening gun disposal regulations, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer has enacted a law requiring state police to fully destroy firearms obtained through community buyback initiatives and similar efforts. The legislation, signed into law on Wednesday, addresses concerns about the previous method of disposal.
In 2024, state police admitted that earlier procedures only involved the destruction of the firearm’s frame or receiver. Other components were being recycled and sold by a private company, as reported by The New York Times.
The state police had already announced in March that they would destroy entire firearms surrendered by local law enforcement agencies, and this practice is now codified in law. “Our current practice of destroying all parts of the firearm will remain the standard now and for the future,” stated Col. James Grady II, the state police director.
In 2023 alone, state police managed over 11,000 firearms, according to spokesperson Shanon Banner. The new law ensures that all components of these weapons are effectively destroyed, preventing any parts from entering the market through recycling or resale.
The Rev. Chris Yaw from St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield, which is part of the Detroit suburbs, supports the legislation. “Gun destruction after buybacks is what ‘Michiganders want and expect,'” he remarked. Yaw’s church has actively participated in gun buybacks, offering gift cards to local stores in exchange for firearms. The initiative has witnessed significant community engagement, with a 2022 event attracting a line of cars stretching two miles (3.2 kilometers).
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