Kentucky surrenders to Gun Lobby: NRA-inspired laws include making police return crime weapons to the streets
In most states, weapons used in any crime from robberies to murders to drug-dealer shootouts are confiscated, used in evidence, then destroyed to keep them from being used in future crimes.
Not in Kentucky.
That Saturday Night Special used in a liquor store robbery or that AR-15 used in drug-gang slayings must – by state law – go back on the street, where it can at least theoretically go on to be used over and over in crimes and killings….
Steve Bass, an investor in a number of Louisville businesses, including the new CyberKnife public-private partnership at J. Graham Brown Cancer Center, told Insider Louisville he proposed putting up a significant amount of money in order to allow Louisville authorities to start a monthly gun buy-back program, with the guns destroyed by authorities.
When Steve tried to pitch state and local officials on his offer to fund a gun buyback program, he was informed Kentucky law forbids weapons seized by police from being destroyed.
“As I am sure you are aware, we in Louisville used to melt down all guns confiscated when criminals were apprehended. The NRA went after this (practice) and (we) fought the fight against State Rep. Bob Dameron, who carried the NRA water. We were overwhelmed and lost (in) a landslide vote by the House and Senate. The law reads that all local governments are required to hold public auctions to sell confiscated weapons with the funds going to purchase bulletproof vests for local police. This was a fight we lost in the 90s.”