DALLAS – Shocking revelations have emerged regarding the disposal of guns by North Texas local law enforcement agencies. It has been discovered that thousands of firearms sent off for destruction were first stripped of valuable parts, which were then sold online by a private company.
Despite this practice being clearly outlined in the contracts signed with Gulf Coast GunBusters, several police departments in the region claimed to be unaware of these actions.
An investigation by the CBS News Texas I-Team uncovered that over the past five years, 15 law enforcement agencies in North Texas have engaged the services of the Louisiana-based company to dispose of unwanted firearms. Since 2019, more than 2,600 guns have been sent to Gulf Coast GunBusters by police and sheriff departments in the area.
Law enforcement agencies often find themselves in possession of firearms that require proper disposal, whether from criminal seizures or gun buyback programs.
While Gulf Coast GunBusters offers free firearm destruction services to law enforcement, it has been revealed that before destroying the guns, the company removes valuable parts and only destroys the gun receiver. The stripped parts are then sold through an online gun broker as gun repair kits, which can be purchased without the need for a background check.
Destroying one part with a serial number is enough to consider a firearm destroyed under federal law, as that part is deemed the actual gun. All other components are considered unregulated parts.
In contracts signed by local police chiefs, GunBusters details the sale of salvaged parts and scrap metals. However, some contracts were not thoroughly reviewed before signing, as discovered by the I-Team.
Several North Texas police departments, including Allen Police, Dallas Co. Sheriff, Denton Police, Everman Police, Frisco Police, Lewisville Police, and Princeton Police, have ceased using the service upon learning that parts were being resold as gun kits.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins was surprised to learn about the online sale of salvaged parts and expressed his lack of prior knowledge on the matter until it was brought to the county's attention by the I-Team.
In 2022, the Dallas County Commissioners approved a five-year contract with Gulf Coast GunBusters without public discussion during the Commissioner's Court meeting, as it was placed on the consent agenda for routine items.
Last month, Jenkins halted the transfer of firearms to GunBusters, including over 130 firearms collected in February from the Dallas County Sheriff's inaugural gun buyback event.
"If we're saying we want to get dangerous guns off the street, then if someone comes up with a loophole to build 'ghost guns' out of destroyed guns, then we're going to close that loophole," Jenkins said.
Dallas County is currently working on a revised agreement with GunBusters for the destruction of the complete firearm including all parts. GunBusters offers this service for a fee.
It's unclear how much the county may have to pay to have their firearms destroyed completely but it can be expensive with it costing around $70 per gun.
Gulf Coast GunBusters' owner, a former law enforcement officer, declined to comment to the I-Team.
The company's website promotes its process as safe, secure, and free for law enforcement agencies. Several North Texas police departments, including McKinney, Hurst, Haltom City, Richland Hills and North Richland Hills, continue to use GunBusters for disposing of unwanted firearms.
In a statement to the I-Team, the McKinney Police Department confirmed awareness of GunBusters' practice: "We are aware that under the agreement, GunBusters may sell salvaged parts and scrap metals. This service is provided at no cost to McKinney taxpayers. The McKinney Police Department believes this to be an efficient way to dispose of these items."
Proper Disposal of Firearms Recommended by ATF
Businesses involved in firearm destruction are not regulated or required to have a license by the federal government. However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) suggests disposing of firearms by completely destroying the entire weapon, including all unregulated parts.
According to ATF spokesperson Kristina Mastropasqua, this recommendation is especially important due to the rising criminal use of untraceable privately made firearms, commonly known as "ghost guns," which are often assembled using used firearm parts.
When ATF is tasked with destroying firearms, they ensure that all parts of the firearm are included in the destruction process, not just the frame or receiver. Additionally, ATF does not engage in the resale of firearms or firearm parts.
Some police departments in Texas have faced challenges in finding vendors to properly dispose of unwanted firearms. The Fort Worth Police Department, for example, works with a steel mill in Midlothian to melt and dispose of confiscated guns. On the other hand, the Dallas Police Department, while not disclosing the exact location of firearm destruction, emphasizes that department auditors closely supervise the entire process to guarantee the thorough destruction of each firearm.
