Members of Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield have organized gun buy-back programs since 2022 and have collected hundreds of weapons which they turned over to authorities to be destroyed.
But a recent investigation by a New York Times reporter revealed Michigan is among many states that don’t destroy the weapons but instead save money by turning them over to third-party companies. They take the guns for free, break them down, then sell the parts on the internet.
In a press conference on gun safety this week in Grand Rapids, ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir reacted to the Times article, saying the companies appear to be exploiting a loophole by only destroying part of the weapons.
“They’re in the business to make money and what better way to make money than to scrap a gun and part it out.”
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten echoed church leaders’ concerns, adding weapons seized by police are also being given to those same companies.
“The fact that those are probably making their way back out onto the market, I’ve heard nothing but concern about that.”
Church leaders are calling for state authorities to hold onto the weapons collected until arrangements can be made for them to be destroyed.
