Mon Jan 27 13:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Michigan Law Mandates Complete Destruction of Guns Collected in Buyback Programs
**Lansing, MI** – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation ensuring the complete destruction of firearms collected during community buyback programs and other police initiatives. The new law addresses previous concerns that only firearm receivers were being destroyed, while other parts were recycled and potentially resold.
The Michigan State Police (MSP) had previously acknowledged that their disposal method, utilized until 2024, failed to fully destroy firearms. A private company was reportedly recycling and reselling components. While the MSP announced a policy change last March to destroy entire firearms, the newly signed legislation codifies this practice into law.
“Our current practice of destroying all parts of the firearm will remain the standard now and for the future,” stated Colonel James Grady II, director of the state police. The MSP handled over 11,000 guns in 2023 alone. The new law mandates that all collected firearms will be processed at a scrap metal facility in Jackson, ensuring complete destruction and compliance with ATF regulations.
Supporters of the legislation, such as Reverend Chris Yaw of St. David’s Episcopal Church, celebrated the change. Yaw’s church, which has organized successful gun buyback events, emphasized that complete destruction aligns with public expectations. He noted the immense community participation in these initiatives, citing a two-mile-long line of cars at a 2022 event. The new law aims to enhance public safety by preventing the re-entry of potentially dangerous weapons into circulation.
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