House bills 6144-6146 were introduced after a New York Times investigation in 2023 found an out-state-state company MSP used to dispose of firearms the agency confiscated or received in buyback programs was repurposing pieces of weapons for resale in kits, according to Michigan Advance.

After pausing the disposal of firearms, MSP announced in March a new method of disposal utilizing a scrap metal processing facility in Jackson, where weapons are now destroyed in their entirety using an industrial pulverizer. The House bills will codify MSP’s current gun disposal practices into law, supporters say.

“I was appalled to find out that across the nation, buyback programs were turning around and giving firearms a second chance,” said state Rep. Felicia Brabec, D-Pittsfield. “This is simply unacceptable. I’ve been working hard to get this legislation ready — we must continue enacting policies to protect our communities, our kids and their futures.”

In a news release, state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, said he voted against the plan, which passed the House Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday along party lines.

“Democrats have decided that forcing taxpayers to pay for unwanted guns isn’t enough, now they want taxpayers to foot the bill for the destruction of perfectly good firearms as well,” Markkanen said. “The inexplicable hatred of guns is taken to a new level with these bills. Firearms obtained through buyback usually have some value. But apparently, anything with a trigger component or any chance of shooting is so threatening to Democrats that the only option is to melt them down at taxpayer expense.”

Gun buyback programs allow Michiganders to turn their guns in, no questions asked. The buyback programs typically lead to all firearms obtained through the buybacks being turned over to MSP. Under current law, MSP is permitted to conduct a public auction to facilitate a firearm sale to a legally eligible buyer, destroy the weapons, use the firearms for official purposes or dispose of them in another lawful manner permitted by the MSP director, Markkanen said.

MSP could save on disposal costs through auctions or by finding alternative uses for firearms, Markkanen said. Some firearms obtained through a buyback may be of interest to collectors, he added.