Kerr Putney
Posted on 12/06/2019 10:11:11 AM PST by Perseverando
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has thousands of confiscated firearms stored in their facilities, according to Chief Kerr Putney.
In an interview with WBTV anchor Molly Grantham, Putney explained why the department is keeping the confiscated guns locked behind closed doors when some of the firearms could be sold to vendors.
“I don’t want to be responsible for having one of those weapons take a life here in Charlotte when we could have done something that’s within our purview because of a law enforcement reason to keep that from happening and that’s what I stand by,” said Putney.
The police chief said his department currently has around 18,000 guns safely stored in CMPD facilities.
Legislation in North Carolina regulates what law enforcement agencies are allowed to do with confiscated firearms.
According to the 2013 law, law enforcement has multiple options when it comes to the handling of the confiscated firearms that are no longer needed for a trial or an investigation and don’t have a rightful owner.
The legislation dictates that law enforcement can destroy a confiscated firearm, but only if it is unsafe to use the gun or the gun no longer has an identification number. The law also states that a law enforcement agency can sell the confiscated firearm to federally licensed firearm dealers. A third option allows for law enforcement to keep confiscated guns for training or experimental purposes. The guns can also be donated to a museum or historical society.
“The law is pretty clear. They want vendors to be able to resell guns,” said Putney. “I think it’s wrong-headed. I’m never gonna break the law, but I am gonna say we have a law enforcement reason where we shouldn’t be adding more weapons to the hands of young people.”
When questioned about the legality of his decision to keep the confiscated firearms locked away, Putney defended the department’s actions, citing a ‘law enforcement reason’ as the reason why CMPD is keeping the guns behind closed doors. He maintains that he is following the law.
“There’s a law enforcement reason why I’m not putting them out there. Mainly, it is to make sure our people are trained and understand what they’re dealing with when they encounter weapons and because I think it is a public safety hazard to keep putting more and more guns that we’re seizing, many of which were illegal that we’re seizing, and then turning them back and reselling them.”
Police say many of the confiscated guns are stolen firearms.
This story will be updated.
Chief Putney: "All your firearms are belong to us me!"
Hey chiefee. Sharing is caring.
Do UAW workers feel responsible when a Car they build takes a life?
Just askin’.
“I don’t want to be responsible for having one of those weapons take a life here in Charlotte”
Hmmm- so he doesn’t mind people not being able to protect themselves and will lose their lives because good cheap guns aren’t available to them for self protection?
Faulty reasoning their chief!
or 5 gallon pail makers feel responsible when a person drowns in one? Or pen cap manufacturers feel responsible when someone chokes to death on their product? (Happens more than one might think) or makers of right-handed products feel responsible when left handed people die while using the products? (Over 2,500 left handed people a year are killed from using products made for right handed people)
doh- meant ‘faulty reasoning THERE chief
Police Chief doesn’t believe in the Constitution.
Yeah, High Fructose Corn Syrup and cigarette manufacturers hardest hit.
The manufacturers thank you. :)
Police say many of the confiscated guns are stolen firearms.
I think the above phrase tells all. I think the chief is unlawfully “taking” the private property of a citizen without a warrant or a court order authorizing him to confiscate the legally owned property of a citizen.
There is such a thing as over correction.
It looks a lot like this situation here.
One solution may be to offer basic arms training to the general public at affordable rates and in accessible places.
I would take such a course myself if it was nearby and more affordable. I don’t want to have to drive an hour away through the twisty, narrow country roads of Petaluma to do it.
I wonder if an audit would show that 18,000 guns were taken from criminals and that the ownership was forfeit?
Or maybe a few items were no longer in the storage area after the trial ...
He doesn’t “feel responsible” for anything. He’s an authoritarian creep who is looking down his nose at the little people. He is also clearly violating the law. This creep is the perfect example of why government which includes the police must be strictly limited in power and must be directly accountable to the people.
Is that plated or solid? I mean, gangstas sure love their gold bling...
Sell them to law abiding citizens, that keeps the off the “STREETS”.
I guess they better keep all of the cars in impound because of DUI’s since he wouldn’t want that car to be involved in another death.
Another idiot who thinks guns, and not people, kill.
Does have 18k hammers, knives, cars, chopsticks, knitting needles, etc. in storage for the same idiotic reason?
For many years, the town I live in offered free classes for those residents wanting to get concealed carry permits. The chief figured an armed citizenry was his natural ally. He was an excellent police chief, and all around excellent guy. He was also a regular at the same church I go to. The department changed a lot (for the worse) after he retired.
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