Cash-strapped Cleveland continues to destroy thousands upon thousands of dollars in firearms despite program's proven failure

In recent years, headlines have told the tale of a bleak financial picture in cities like Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Fewer police officers, layoffs, pay freezes, and reduced services.

In this cash-strapped atmosphere, does it really make any sense for bureaucrats to destroy thousands upon thousands of dollars in city property that could instead be sold?

Unfortunately, that is exactly what Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has been doing for the past nine years - destroying thousands of guns the city paid for with city tax dollars.

From the Associated Press:

Officials from Cleveland and one of its suburbs say that 200 guns collected during buyback events this summer have been melted down at a Cleveland steel mill.

The guns destroyed on Friday were exchanged for gift cards for gasoline or groceries in August in Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. Officials say the guns were mixed with molten iron to make steel for household products.

...

Cleveland officials say the city has collected more than 2,900 guns during buyback events in the last nine years.

The report of 2,900 guns being collected is noteworthy, given that, in 2013, Cleveland.com reported that then-Police Chief Michael McGrath claimed the city has "has melted down more than 8,000 guns over the last seven years." Either the Associated Press or Cleveland.com has their numbers wrong, or McGrath has been caught grossly overexaggerating the numbers of firearms collected. Given that the take each of the last few years has number in the low hundreds, my guess is the latter.

The AP article goes on to note that this year's meltdown comes at a time when gun homicides and gun violence are on the rise in Cleveland. The city's gun homicide rate is up 40 percent this year compared with the same period a year ago and felonious assault shootings are up 33 percent.

That's right - nine years of this program, and all the city has to show for it is MORE homicides and MORE violence committed with firearms. So why keep doing the same thing over and over again?

Every year, anti-gun rights extremists (including those in the establishment media) act like this is a great thing. The pro-gun rights people generally claim it is worthless. We'd like to explain why it is dangerous.

In previous years' coverage of this program, the Cleveland Plain Dealer has reported that guns will be destroyed after entering their serial numbers to determine if they were stolen. The articles never say if stolen guns are returned to their proper owners, some of whom might like to have them back. Some could be used to defend a potential victim’s life from a violent criminal.

Glaringly missing from these annual articles is any mention of these guns in relation to NIBIN, the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network for which Cleveland received a 5.9 million dollar federal grant in 2007.

Instead, it is noted that “officers did not ask questions about the guns” from people turning them in.

What a great deal for a murderer. To avoid getting caught with that murder weapon, turn it in for a $100 gift card. The gun will not be subject to ballistic testing which could tie you to a killing. And better yet, the gun (otherwise known as "evidence") will be destroyed for you, so that it can NEVER be used as evidence at your trial.

How many of the guns turned in were in terrible condition - perhaps even to the point of being inopoerable - and not worth $100? How many guns were stolen, thus rewarding criminals for their behavior? How many guns were used in crimes, but can no longer be linked to criminals?

How come no one else is asking these basic questions? Because if they were answered, these guns-for-money programs would be exposed for what they really are. Given Cleveland's rapidly increasing crime problems, it’s hard to imagine any scenario where this program is reducing crime. On the other hand, it’s easy to see how it helps and rewards criminals.

No, the only thing Mayor Jackson is reducing is the city's treasury - many of these firearms could be sold and the money added to a city treasury in desperate need.

Unfortunately, as the Columbus Dispatch reported last year, the practice of city governments destroying valuable property is all too common around the state. In fact, according to the Dispatch, of 24 police agencies surveyed by the newspaper at the time, only seven departments said they sell guns to a dealer and use the money or credit to purchase firearms or ammunition. Some police officials said they wouldn’t sell guns, out of fear that the weapons would end up back on the streets, but others don’t see that as a concern.

“We only sell to someone that is reputable,” Newark Police Sgt. Scott Snow is quoted as saying. “People we sell to have laws they (must) follow.”

In 2013, Rep. John Becker (R-65) introduced House Bill 210, which would prohibit law enforcement agencies from destroying an unclaimed or forfeited firearm, requiring them to instead sell the property to a federally licensed firearms dealer all which are legal for persons to possess, that are not used by an agency for police work, and that are not otherwise sold for sporting use or as a museum piece or collectors' item. Unfortunately, Republican leaders in the House allowed the bill to die without being given serious attention.

In Guns & Ammo's ranking of "Best States for Gun Owners," Ohio ranks 35th, and falls far behind all of its border states. Michigan, which passed concealed carry one year before Ohio, ranks 33rd. West Virgina ranks 21st, Pennsylvania is 20th, Indiana comes in 16th and Kentucky is ranked 5th.

As legislators begin to seek your money and time to help with their reelection efforts in the next several months, please ask them if they believe that Ohioans are more dangerous and less trustworthy than Pennsylvanians, where unclaimed property, including firearms, must be sold. Such thinking is the only way to justify current state law. Ask state legislative candidates what they are doing to fix Ohio law.

If you are unable to speak with them in person, call your state senator, state representative and Governor Kasich.

If they have any hope of bringing the Buckeye State into the 21st century when it comes to gun rights, Ohio's pro-gun rights legislators have their work cut out for them.

If you want to see the General Assembly act to improve gun rights in ways that are already enjoyed by the majority of other states, call your Representative and Senator NOW and ask them when pro-gun legislation is going to move in Ohio.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association President, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award," the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award," and the SAF's 2015 "Defender of Freedom Award."