Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Signs Bill Banning Destruction Of Guns Surrendered At Buyback Events

[petronius]

18. From a public-safety perspective, there's no difference whether the firearms are destroyed

or not. The number of guns collected at buybacks is infinitesimal compared to how many exist, so whether they're melted or sold is really irrelevant. The only meaningful benefit of a buyback is the opportunity for a person to remove a gun that they no longer want and perhaps are not able to store safely - that benefit occurs no matter what the ultimate disposition is. And there's certainly something to be said for a city making use of any available resources (i.e., surrendered or confiscated property) in the most efficient way possible.

People who are turning in firearms that they really really want destroyed will still have the option: they can take a hacksaw or a sledgehammer to the firearm, and forgo the gift certificate.

Of course, the donors for these events may really want the firearms destroyed, but I wonder if these donors can run the same sort of event without involving the police at all: collect the guns, and arrange privately to have them melted...