WASHINGTON —More than a dozen law enforcement agencies have stopped reselling their used firearms or are reconsidering the practice after an investigation revealed that thousands of former police guns have ended up in violent crimes, CBS News reported.
The 2024 investigation, conducted by The Trace, CBS News and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, found that over 52,000 police-issued weapons resurfaced in robberies, domestic violence incidents, homicides and other crimes between 2006 and 2022, according to the report. Many of these guns entered civilian circulation after being traded to retailers for equipment discounts or sold directly to officers.
Following the report, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a warning in January to police departments about the risks associated with reselling their firearms. The agency cited more than 3,000 former law enforcement weapons recovered from homicides or convicted felons between 2019 and 2023, according to the report.
Of the 60 agencies contacted by The Trace and CBS News, 21 responded. Cincinnati, Columbus, and Sacramento police departments, and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they had ended gun resale programs. Previously, Indianapolis and Minneapolis police departments also halted the practice in response to the same reporting.
Seven other departments said they are reviewing their policies, including the Wisconsin State Patrol and New York State Police and sheriff’s offices in San Diego and Orange County, according to the report.
Although a 1998 resolution from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) discouraged departments from reselling guns, the resolution expired and has not been renewed, according to the report. Current IACP firearms committee head William Brooks said budget realities should guide decisions, arguing that gun destruction doesn’t necessarily reduce violence given the widespread availability of firearms.
After thousands of former police firearms were linked to crimes, the ATF warns law enforcement to reconsider resale policies. Should departments mandate destruction instead?
