When the Washington State Patrol (WSP) seizes weapons, the agency has three options: store, trade, or auction off the guns to licensed dealers.
WSP wants another option: destroy the weapons.
“The state patrol doesn’t want to be in the business of selling weapons. We really don’t,” said WSP spokesperson Monica Alexander.
Last year WSP traded more than 300 seized handguns, rifles, and shotguns for 100 AR-15 to be used by troopers.
Alexander said the agency fears one of the weapons it sells or trades will end up involved in a crime someday.
“We don’t want that on our conscience,” said Alexander. “We don’t want to think about it.”
A bill to allow the destruction of confiscated weapons failed to pass the legislature last year.
The same bill is still technically alive in Olympia this session.
With only a week remaining, Alexander is optimistic it will pass, especially with all the attention surrounding gun legislation since the Parkland, Florida, shootings in February.
