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PHOENIX -- A bill that would ban cities and counties from destroying guns turned in during buy-back programs has passed a divided Arizona House of Representatives on a party-line vote.

The bill by Republican Rep. Justin Pierce of Mesa was designed to eliminate a loophole in a law passed last year that required police agencies to sell seized guns.

Cities, including Tucson, have continued to hold the buy-back events and destroy the weapons.

Pierce said during floor debate Thursday that there's no evidence buybacks increase public safety. Democrats argued it was unnecessary.

Buy-back programs are designed to give people a safe place to get rid of unwanted weapons.

All 36 Republicans in the House voted for the bill, with 23 Democrats against and one absent. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Associated Press,

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  • Abuse
    az83 wrote...
    "Buy-back
    March 7, 2013 7:56 pm
    programs are designed to give people a safe place to get rid of unwanted weapons."....You have to be kidding me, how ignorant is this person, ever hear of a GUN store, they not only sell them they buy them or sell them at a pawn shop. GBBP are designed to give people a false sense of security and that authorities are doing something to make a difference. It's all to demonize the gun. It's all a dog and pony show.
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    Surviving family members may choose
    March 7, 2013 11:40 pm
    to dispose of a gun that (pick one) 1. Dad used to kill mom and then himself 2. Frail, despondent grandpa used to commit suicide 3. Junior used for robbery. 4. Little Sadie played with and accidentally shot her 3 year old brother. The family wants the accursed thing out of their house and destroyed so that no further harm will be done with it. They demonize the gun because they recognize that none of the impulse driven tragedies would have happened if the gun hadn't been readily available. Gun nuts, no respecters of property rights, want to give the gun life everlasting.
  • Abuse
    yrreta wrote...
    Micho, out of touch as usual,
    March 8, 2013 4:47 am
    all your examples would more than likely not apply, as the weapons used in those circumstances would more than likely be retained by the investigating police department as evidence. And if released from evidence, the family probably doesn't want it back, and are probably not thinking of how to profit off of a tragedy through a buyback...unless they are liberals. Practice what I ask my 14 year old to try, think about what you are going to say before speaking. Micho the irrelevant.
  • Abuse
    yrreta wrote...
    And if you are worried about your gun
    March 8, 2013 4:56 am
    finding its way back on the streets after you turn it in for a buyback, disable it before you turn it in. File down the firing pin, fill the barrel with epoxy, install a trigger lock and throw away the key, collapse the barrel with a hammer, etc. Buybacks take any gun, working or not. This is one time the owner can take matters into their own hands as to what happens with the gun after a sponsored buyback.
  • Abuse
    Steve wrote...
    This should upset the Progressives
    March 8, 2013 6:35 am
    Guns not destroyed.
  • Abuse
    ZingerRinger wrote...
    I can't wiat!
    March 8, 2013 7:33 am
    When and where is the next "buyback" program? I have $100 bills burning a hole in my pocket...
  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    I really don't
    March 8, 2013 7:45 am
    care if they destroy the guns. If that's what the gun owner wants, they should get it. I have no problem with that. What I don't like is if my tax dollar goes to the government paying for the weapons. They spend enough on weapons as is, they don't need to spend money to pay someone for a weapons and then turn around and destroy it. And I wonder why we are going broke, it's stupid things like this even if it's $30K. That price might be a drop in the bucket but that's how the bucket fills up.
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.
  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    Lets see about this fact.
    March 8, 2013 7:59 am
    "They demonize the gun because they recognize that none of the impulse driven tragedies would have happened if the gun hadn't been readily available." Lets look at factual numbers now, 31,940 deaths by firearms/year, 783,936 deaths by the US medical system/year (in 2011 for both). If you agree & use the logical thinking as Micho does, then you HAVE TO agree with demonizing and banning the medical system. There is no other way, just to save 1 life. (don't worry Micho, I didn't say you have to believe that.) Oh wait, the medical system saves lives! Oh my, guns saves lives too! Now what do we do.
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.
  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    Hey so
    March 8, 2013 8:01 am
    like 8 years ago a tree fell on my car and totaled it. A tree did this damage, I'm gonna start to demonize all trees now no matter what, we should get rid of them all. Wait, why shouldn't I demonize the trees?
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.
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