GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — The city of Grand Rapids passed a gun buyback program last year in an effort to get guns off the streets.
Guns purchased in buyback programs in Grand Rapids and other cities are given to Michigan State Police which then turns them over to a company called GunBusters.
The idea is for the guns to be destroyed or made so they can't be used again. However, according to an article in the New York Times, GunBusters destroys one part of the gun and resells the rest.
Michigan State Police told 13 ON YOUR SIDE in a statement:
"The Michigan State Police is committed to upholding Michigan’s recently updated gun violence prevention laws and to getting illegal guns off the streets so they cannot be used in a commission of a crime. All firearms surrendered to the MSP are turned over to GunBusters to be destroyed in accordance with the ATF’s acceptable destruction procedures that require the destruction of the frame or receiver so the firearm can no longer be used. We receive video proof of this occurring for every firearm. The MSP is among 950 agencies from across the country that utilize GunBusters’ services."
We reached out to GunBusters about the New York Times article and were told by a spokesperon that the company disagrees with a number of points in the story. The main point being that law enforcement agencies are unaware of what is happening with the firearms. They also said the implication that agencies are being deceived about how the firearms are destroyed and how GunBusters is funded is patently false.
In a statement to 13 ON YOUR SIDE, GunBusters said in part:
"Agencies can choose the fee-based full-destruction of the firearms, or the free service where the ATF-defined receivers are destroyed and parts are salvaged. The choice made by the department on how to destroy the firearms is reflected in the destruction contract that is signed by both parties."
In 2020, 267 weapons were collected and disposed of during two buyback programs in Grand Rapids.
We also reached out to the city of Grand Rapids for a statement. A spokesperson said in part:
“As with most municipalities in the State of Michigan, State law provides for only two options for gun disposition - turning them over to MSP or selling them to a licensed dealer. The City of Grand Rapids Police Department transfers eligible weapons that come into its possession for disposal to the Michigan State Police. The City of Grand Rapids remains committed to pursuing any and all strategies to reducing gun violence, ensuring that all people are safe and feel safe at all times.”
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