A proposal forcing Gary and other Indiana cities to end their gun buy-back programs was approved 6-2 Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill 229, which now goes to the full Senate, prohibits local governments and their police departments from conducting gun buy-back events intended to reduce the number of guns circulating in a community.
The sponsor of the measure, state Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said he can’t understand why police ever would want to destroy guns, when most guns police obtain or seize have significant value and could be resold.
Under the legislation, police only would be permitted to destroy a gun if the weapon’s serial number has been obliterated. All other guns obtained by police would have to be sold to a firearms dealer or through an auction.
Proceeds from the sale of those guns then could be spent to purchase more police guns, ammunition or bulletproof vests. Current law requires gun sale funds be spent only on police training.
Source: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lawmakers-take-aim-at-gun-buy-back-programs/article_3af94bbf-ee1a-530a-9fef-c98a705da833.html
Excellent news! Now it remains to be seen whether the Senate votes the right way.