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File #: R-020-23    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 2/27/2023 In control: Public Safety Committee
On agenda: 3/16/2023 Final action: 3/16/2023
Title: A RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT HOUSE BILL 325 AND SENATE BILL 168, EMPOWERING LOUISVILLE-JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT TO PERMANENTLY DESTROY ABANDONED, CONFISCATED, OR FORFEITED FIREARMS IN ITS CUSTODY.
Sponsors: Tammy Hawkins (D-1), Jeff Hudson (R-23)
Attachments: 1. R-020-23 V.1 030223 Calling on KY General Assembly to Enact HB 325.pdf, 2. RES 015 2023.pdf

RESOLUTION No. _________, Series 2023

Title

A RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT HOUSE BILL 325 AND SENATE BILL 168, EMPOWERING LOUISVILLE-JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT TO PERMANENTLY DESTROY ABANDONED, CONFISCATED, OR FORFEITED FIREARMS IN ITS CUSTODY.

Body

SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS HAWKINS AND HUDSON

 

WHEREAS, 146 people were killed by firearms in Louisville-Jefferson County in 2022, of which 14 were children under the age of 18 years old; and

WHEREAS, over ninety percent of homicides committed in Louisville-Jefferson County in 2022 used a firearm; and

WHEREAS, Louisville Metro Police Department (“LMPD”) currently has thousands of firearms in the custody of the LMPD property room; and

WHEREAS, Kentucky statutes prohibit LMPD from destroying forfeited firearms which were used in the commission of a crime, and further requires transferring those firearms to the Kentucky State Police (“KSP”) to be made available for sale by public auction; and

WHEREAS, the Courier-Journal has found at least 31 instances where firearms sold at KSP auctions were tied to later criminal cases in Louisville, including 12 that were auctioned multiple times; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Craig Greenberg has ordered LMPD to remove the firing pins and affix a warning label to forfeited firearms that were used in commission of a crime prior to transferring to KSP for auction; and

WHEREAS, Kentucky State Representative Keturah Herron has filed House Bill 325 and State Senators Karen Berg and Reggie Thomas have filed Senate Bill 168 to allow consolidated local governments, such as Louisville-Jefferson County, to permanently destroy abandoned, confiscated, or forfeited firearms in the custody according to guidelines set forth by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (“THE COUNCIL”) AS FOLLOWS:

 

SECTION I: The Council urges the Kentucky General Assembly to act with urgency to address the illegal firearms crisis and pass House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 168 during the 2023 Regular Session.

SECTION II: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval or otherwise becoming law.

 

 

_________________________________                     ______________________________

Sonya Harward                                                                                                         Markus Winkler

Metro Council Clerk                                                                                                         President of the Council

 

 

 

__________________________________                     _____________________________

Craig Greenberg                                                                                                         Approval Date

Mayor

 

Approved as to form and legality:                                          

Michael J. O’Connell

Jefferson County Attorney

 

 

BY: _________________________________

 

R-020-23 - Forfeited firearm destruction.docx - hh