Bidding under way for confiscated firearms
The Colorado Springs Police Department is pulling the trigger on a proposal to sell a cache of confiscated weapons, ending a longtime practice of destroying them.
The city is starting to accept bids for about 90 rifles and handguns, including a double-barrel dual trigger shotgun, a Smith & Wesson .38 Special and a Glock 17 9 mm.
The weapons include firearms recovered in criminal investigations, taken as evidence from a suspect and then forfeited by the courts, turned in to police by citizens and those that have been found and gone unclaimed, Sgt. Steve Noblitt, a police spokesman, said Monday.
Police will continue to destroy weapons turned in by citizens who request they be destroyed, he said.
“If they ask us to destroy it, we’re going to destroy it,” he said. “We’re going to respect that.”
City officials have estimated that the sale of the confiscated weapons would generate about $10,000.
Only someone with a federal firearms license will be allowed to bid on the weapons, which will be sold in groups, or lots of about 10.
“All sales are as-is, and lots will not be broken up,” according to city documents.
At least five companies have downloaded the solicitation, including Qwik Cash Pawn LLC and Wildfire Mercantile LLC, according to the city’s Web site.
Interested bidders will be able to see the weapons at the Police Operations Center from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 3 before bidding on them.
“This preview is not mandatory, however, potential bidders are highly encouraged to attend,” documents state.
The weapons will be guarded during the pre-bid preview, said Cheryl Rea, a senior contracting specialist for the city.
“Nobody can enter unless they have a picture ID” and a federal firearms license, she said.
Bids will apparently be accepted until Oct. 9.
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