One group apparently took irresponsibility to the next level recently with an ill-advised gun buyback. New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence (NMPGV) planned an event only to have it canceled by Farmington officials when the public protested it.
Mayor Rob Mayes announced the cancellation.
Undeterred, the organization decided to go door-to-door offering gift cards in exchange for weapons.
Creating ownership transfers.
The zealots then proceeded to “destroy” the firearms and take photographic evidence of their deeds. This destruction may have consisted of nothing more than sawing the firearms in half.
Thus, possibly creating short-barreled rifles.
San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari posted on Facebook the week before Christmas that his department will investigate NMPGV. This action would commence over concerns that the group violated New Mexico law requiring a background check for every firearm transfer — commercial or private.
Ferrari wrote, “Reviewing the law I do not see where they are exempt from having to undergo a background check and are required to like anyone else. A sale is taking place (gift cards $100 and up), it is advertised as a purchase and called a ‘buy back.’”
Word spread about the pending investigation, prompting NMPGV activists to circle the wagons around their scheme. They claimed on social media that firearm transfers never took place because members destroyed the weapons “onsite.”
Aside from the likely illegal transfers due to the lack of a mandated background check, Ferrari found that this “dismantling” also ran afoul of state statutes.
“Law enforcement is required to obtain a court order for destruction or other disposition. That process takes months. If New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is going through law enforcement to purchase the unwanted firearms, those must remain in that law enforcement agency’s custody until they obtain a destruction order.”
Sheriff Ferrari noted that authorities are not permitted to give anyone, including a non-profit, a weapon for destruction. He also declared that “I know how many times a receiver needs to be cut to be considered destroyed.”
As the lawman concluded, “Either way I look at it, the law is not being followed.”
The gun control group struck back with a posting on X, formerly Twitter. “It is tragic to see Sherif [sic] Ferrari care more about 9 destroyed guns than the safety of his community from gun violence.” As if the ends justify the means.
In other words, nine guns potentially were illegally transferred. Additionally, they appear likely to have been unlawfully altered or destroyed. It would be news if nine guns were transferred without proper background checks and documentation.
Despite whatever intentions the group had or claimed to have, the law applies to everyone. Their response was nothing more than an attempt to deflect blame by citing “good intentions.” Roads are paved with such.
Ferrari contacted the New Mexico state attorney general, the San Juan County district attorney and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) about the case. There is no word on a response to his query.
And there may not be.
New Mexico was the site of an egregious government attempt to restrict the right to keep and bear arms in recent months. That effort failed, but already there is momentum gathering for a strong push in 2024 to further infringe on the rights of gun owners. Sheriff Ferrari’s quest for justice is likely to fall on deaf ears, with the gun control group at most receiving a written admonishment.
