SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — After months of controversy, Michigan State Police (MSP) has announced a new program that plans to fully destroy guns that were turned in at buybacks.
MSP previously had a partnership with GunBusters, an organization that offers gun disposal to law enforcement agencies for free.
However, a New York Times report in December revealed these guns weren't being fully destroyed. The only part being destroyed was the receiver, per ATF guidelines. The rest of the parts were resold, mostly becoming "ghost guns," firearms that are difficult to trace because they don't have serial numbers.
"It's right there in the contract," said Rev. Chris Yaw. "They are free to salvage and to sell it on the internet or wherever else."
Yaw is the rector at St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield. He discovered the reality of ghost guns while planning his congregation's second gun buyback in partnership with local police.
"After Oxford happened, which was in Oakland County, where we're located, and then the shooting at Michigan State, we thought, 'oh my gosh, this is really hitting too close to home,'" Yaw said.
Though his intention was to help get unwanted guns off of the streets, he was alarmed to find out the disposal method could send more guns right back into circulation. His concern was echoed by statewide advocates, including Ryan Bates, the executive director of End Gun Violence Michigan.
"This is a problem because that is fueling the market for untraceable ghost guns and ghost guns are often used in crimes because they can't be tracked by law enforcement," Bates said.
This advocacy from Yaw, the New York Times and advocacy groups led MSP to agree to a new program. Starting in March, a facility in Jackson will completely pulverize guns from buybacks and turn them into scrap metal. This will make them unrecyclable, unable to put back into circulation.
"This is is a big deal, because the state police are showing that they take community concerns seriously. They're listening to advocates who are raising concerns," Bates said. "The state's no longer in the business of fueling the market in ghost guns that can be used in crimes."
Yaw says he and his congregation are still planning to help out in hosting the buybacks. He says they have hopes to eventually be able to destroy them as well.
"We have a food pantry. Why? Because people have food and they can't get it. We take guns, why? Because people have them, and there's no really easy way for them to get rid of that weapon," Yaw said. "It is far easier in the state and in this country to get a gun than it is to get rid of one."
The last gun buyback in Grand Rapids was in 2022. 13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to the city, but a spokesperson said they don't currently have plans for another one.
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