Gun Buyback – err, no Public Service Announcement
Adam Groves emails about this commentary (scroll down):
The city of Knoxville is hard up for money, but does that justify auctioning off more than 100 guns? Check the Web site powellauction.com. You’ll find KPD-confiscated handguns and rifles set to be sold Jan. 15. What’s the background check on bidders? And how many citizens will be injured by these weapons back in circulation?
Victor Ashe and Phil Keith bought back guns. Bill Haslam and Sterling Owen IV are selling them.
Sandra Clark seems a bit upset about it. I don’t know why. Selling guns lawfully to law abiding citizens shouldn’t be an issue. I’m not sure about the background check issue because I don’t know how auctions work but it sounds like a good place to get a good deal.
Here’s (with pics) the auction page and here’s a list of guns for sale. It’s a pity I’ll be out of town this weekend or I’d be there Saturday.
Update: Any Floridians can buy guns from police too!
Update 2: HL notes in comments that auctioneers of firearms must have a Federal Firearms License. The North Carolina Auctioneer Licensing Board guidelines confirm that in a consignment auction (where the auctioneer takes possession of items prior to sale) an FFL is needed and, therefore, background checks would be done. In an estate auction where the auctioneer does not take possession, no FFL is required.
Note to Sandra Clark: that took about one minute of Googling.
Update 3: Michael Silence does some actual reporting and notes:
KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk notes that the police department is not selling any firearms at the auction, and has not changed its policy on that.
Then I suppose the guns listed at auction (they’re listed as gun collection) may not be from the city but some other collection.
January 11th, 2005 at 10:20 am
The only issue I’d have is with firearms that were taken from citizens for a les than legit reason, or firearms retained cause it’s cheaper to buy a new one most of the time than pay an attorney to get them back.
But if they all came from people who engaged or were attempting to engage in violent crimes against another person I’d say it’s a fine, nay, a proper way for local governments to raise money.
January 11th, 2005 at 10:47 am
Wow. Lots of nice S&Ws in there. I saw a nice 3″ K frame (hard to find in that barrel length anymore), four TiSc snubbies, and a couple others.
Does anyone know what this means: “10% Buyers Premium.”
January 11th, 2005 at 10:55 am
Dunno about the buyers premium but you could email and ask:
info@PowellAuction.com
Or call, i suppose.
January 11th, 2005 at 10:59 am
There’s a couple of glocks, a sig P230, and nice looking SKS there too. I wish i wasn’t going out of town.
January 11th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Any auctioneer who is selling firearms has to have an FFL since it is a commercial sale, I would assume. And FFLs must do a NICS check.
January 11th, 2005 at 5:10 pm
A “buyers premium” is usually another way of saying its the auction houses commission. What it means is that after you win the auction they add 10% to the price to offset the auction houses costs. Its disclosed upfront so that bids can be adjusted accordingly.
January 11th, 2005 at 7:08 pm
Two Journalists and Two Bloggers
I emailed Say Uncle last night Sandra Clark’s rant in Monday’s Halls Shopper about Powell Auction Company selling guns captured by the Knoxville Police Department (I didn’t blog about it here, because hey, guns aren’t exactly my speciality topic), …
January 17th, 2005 at 5:24 am
Blog Power, But No Credit
Last week when Sandra Clark criticized Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen, area blogs were quick to respond. I emailed Knoxville blogger Say Uncle the story and he posted that auctioneers must have a Federal Firearms license….