In the current political climate in the wake of several tragic public shootings, many legislators have been quick to use the anti-gun media response as momentum to try to push through more restrictive anti-gun legislation. But, not all laws that have passed in recent months have served to increase restrictions on firearms. For example, in July, Illinois passed legislation allowing its citizens to concealed carry. More recently, however, is the so-called “Save the Gun” law passed in North Carolina.
NC’s “Save the Gun” bill, which went into effect early this month (September), prohibits law enforcement from destroying fully functional firearms—even if they were used in a crime. The law states that law enforcement agencies must either keep, donate, or sell confiscated unclaimed firearms to a licensed FFL. However, if the applicable firearms are damaged and inoperable, or if the serial number is somehow missing or illegible, the firearms may then be destroyed. This “Save the Gun” legislation may keep additional firearms in circulation that a judge’s decision would have previously removed. The new law puts the responsibility of selling, keeping, or destroying unclaimed or confiscated firearms into the hands of the sheriff of the county in which the trials associated with the firearm(s) in question are held.
