Spokane councilwoman proposes destroying instead of selling seized rifles

Joe Teehan

KGMIAP Photo/Elaine ThompsonSales clerk Tom Wallitner holds up a Mossberg 715T .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle during an auction at Johnny's Auction House, where the company handles gun sales for a half dozen police departments and the Lewis County Sheriff's Office.

11-1-2018

SPOKANE, Wash. — A new proposal would require Spokane police to destroy rifles and shotguns they seize rather than sell them to firearms dealers.

The Spokesman-Review reports police would destroy all types of guns that are obtained through investigations or forfeited for any other reason.

Sponsored by City Councilwoman Candace Mumm, the proposal exempts antique firearms or guns obtained before 1993.

The department is already prohibited from selling handguns.

Mumm acknowledged that destroying rifles would result in lost revenue, but reducing the availability of firearms was worth the price.