Posted on 03/15/2010 7:13:08 AM PDT by marktwain
WASHINGTON — Two guns used in high-profile shootings this year at the Pentagon and a Las Vegas courthouse both came from the same unlikely place: the police and court system of Memphis, Tenn.
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that both guns were once seized in criminal cases in Memphis. The officials described how the weapons made their separate ways from an evidence vault to gun dealers and to the shooters.
The use of guns that were once in police custody to attack police officers highlights a little-known divide in gun policy in the U.S.: Many cities and states destroy guns gathered in criminal probes, but others sell or trade the weapons in order to get other guns or buy police equipment.
In fact, on the day of the Pentagon shooting, March 4, the Tennessee governor signed legislation revising state law on confiscated guns. Before, law enforcement agencies in the state had the option of destroying a gun. Under the new version, agencies can only destroy a gun if it's inoperable or unsafe.
Kentucky has a similar law, but it's not clear how many other states have laws specifically designed to promote the police sale or trade of confiscated weapons.
A nationwide review by The Associated Press in December found that over the previous two years, 24 states — mostly in the South and West, where gun-rights advocates are particularly strong — have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions. Gun rights groups are making a greater effort to pass favorable legislation in state capitals.
John Timoney, who led the Philadelphia and Miami police departments and served as New York's No. 2 police official, said he doesn't believe police departments should be putting more guns into the market.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
There is a tension between a nanny system that completely polices the sale of all guns lest someone unfit get hold of one, and the freedom of persons to keep and bear arms.
Nobody should be shocked that used guns in good shape are a better bargain than new ones for those who want them for utilitarian purposes whether fair or foul. And the overwhelming use, though not highlighted in our media (because it’s like dog bites man), is fair not foul.
do they come documented? i’d imagine the LEAs could make even more money if they came with letter of authenticity.
John Timoney, who led the Philadelphia and Miami police departments and served as New York’s No. 2 police official, said he doesn’t believe police departments should be putting more guns into the market.
Political hackery, from a politician. Frankly, if the US military would get with the program, instead of destroying perfectly good equipment...
I could imagine some collectors might want weapons of infamy, just because. But those guns are unlikely to see further use.
Again, the focus on the the evil guns takes priority over the evil criminals.
there will always be people fascinated with the macabre, and there will always be collectors ready to make a buck off them. i imagine someone would pony up a huge amount of dough to get the guns from some of the school shootings, start a museum of some sort and make a ton of money.
The way corruption works here in Memphis, when I first heard this, I figured someone privately sold them out of the evidence room.
They should prepare for lots of protests if they take the show on the road.
Five Men with Mideast Ties Indicted in License Scam (Tennessee License Scandal)
TENN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS
Car fire set off suspicions as crew fought it (Smith Tennesee License Scandal)
License suspect had WTC repair pass, but Port Authority did its own work [Tennessee License Scandal]
The pass gave him access to the buildings' sprinkler systems.
I bet he "fixed" them real good...
Treason is not too strong a word.
I still wonder if the driver license murder was over her registering illegal Dims to vote...
The people who killed her like burning people alive.
And they had much to hide.
The evidence seems to indicate that Sakher 'Rocky' Hammad was complicit, indeed provided a key enabling factor, in the murder of thousands of Americans.
What's one more, especially if she can provide information that might tie him to the scene of the crime? Worse, she just might be able to finger any number of other enemy agents pre-placed in the belly of The Great Satan.
Immigration fraud? Really? Pretty much nobody in government cares.
She was used to funnel perhaps hundreds of sleeper islamomurderers into quiet spots among the American citizenry. The democrats and too many republicans don’t really care about that though ... and still no one seems able to build a reliable working guillotine.
“I could imagine some collectors might want weapons of infamy, just because. But those guns are unlikely to see further use.”
These particular guns were guns that had been issued to the police, and were now surplus. They had not been confiscated from citizens.
What a coinky-dink. Sounds like the Mephis PD is selling to a shady dealer. Two firearms in the hands of people shooting at government offices/personnel? If it smells like chit, the dog left you a present.
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