Destroy Department Firearms

There has been a significant increase in the number of firearms seized by and surrendered to law enforcement agencies. While seizure and recovery numbers are not published, ATF data reflects over 620,000 crime guns were traced in 2022. Yearly, United States law enforcement agencies conduct more than seven million firearm serial number checks. It is estimated over one million guns are recovered annually by law enforcement.

In some agencies, seized guns are stored for years before a decision is made to dispose of them. In many instances the Chief of Police or Sheriff was unable to find a safe, simple and secure method to destroy the weapons. In some agencies confiscated and surrendered firearms are destroyed by sawing in-half or cutting with an acetylene torch, while others are crushed with a sledgehammer, all inherently dangerous methods. A few agencies transport weapons to car shredders or foundries, requiring significant resources, with an increased risk of loss or theft during the process. Much to the chagrin of police administrators, there are reports of supposedly shredded or melted guns reappearing in new crimes. Due to EPA air pollution mandates, the number of foundries willing to destroy firearms is declining.

Agency administrators also report their frustration with the hidden costs, not shown in their approved budget, for the packaging, storing, record-keeping, and eventual destruction of firearms. Many agencies have been forced to increase the size of their property rooms and the number of personnel assigned to the overwhelming and time consuming task of maintaining massive firearm inventories.

GunBusters recognized the need for a safe, simple and secure method for agencies to destroy the increasing number of confiscated and surrendered firearms. For over two years our team searched for a viable solution to the destruction issue, resulting in the design of a pulverizer, specifically designed to destroy firearms. To document the destruction, we developed a computer and video verification process, for which GunBusters was issued two U.S. Patents.

Once destroyed, the agency is provided with searchable video recordings that show the individual destruction of each firearm, copies of ATF documentation, and samples of the destroyed firearms.

The first GunBusters Firearms Pulverizer System is housed in our headquarters in Missouri, where destruction services are provided FREE of charge for law enforcement agencies. In addition, GunBusters developed a nationwide network of licensees to provide destruction services for law enforcement agencies across the United States.

To date, GunBusters has destroyed over 250,000 firearms for 1,000 of agencies across the country.