Well, this is just great. At least 6 counties and the State Patrol sell guns that they have confiscated in crimes back to people in the community. They have even sold an assault rifle to someone.
http://www.king5.com/...
- Records show that the Thurston County Drug Task Force sold a Norinco SKS military-style rifle and a Romarm AK-47 in a batch of 44 guns traded with a firearms dealer.
- The Kitsap County Sheriff’s office sold an Intratec 9mm, which used to be on the list of assault weapons banned in the United States.
- WSP sold an “Interordinance (sic.), assault rifle w/scope and case and 2 magazines” and an “SKS, assualt (sic.) rifle.”
WSP said it does not distinguish between firearms when it puts its crime guns out for bid.
“We draw a fairly bright line at legal versus illegal weapons, and the only modification from that is if a weapon was used in a high-profile crime. We’re not gonna put a trophy back on the street for someone,” Calkins said.
Oh, well, that's comforting. We don't want a gun that was used in a high profile shooting, just your every day kinda shooting.
When I worked for the DA in Sacramento, CA they confiscated all guns and melted them down. They made manhole covers out of them, I believe. It was hard to get a permit to carry in CA in the '70's, I don't know if it's easier to do so now. There were Deputy DA's who wanted them and judges wouldn't give them one. They had to prove a need and putting people away for years wasn't enough of a reason, I guess.
It's really easy to get a concealed weapons permit in WA. You do not have to prove a need, you just have to want one. My husband has one. He's tried to get me to get one for years. Not to carry a gun to the grocery store, but we live on the edge of the Olympic National Forest and there be bears and mountain lions here.