Are CBS & Everytown “Gaslighting” Used Police Equipment Sales?

Opinion

There’s a lot of hysterical, breathless news reporting noise about police departments reselling their used duty weapons and that these guns are ending up in crimes.

Recent fake news media reports with the backing of Everytown for Gun Safety and The Trace, both financed by Michael Bloomberg, have sensationalized the notion that the resale of surplus police-issued weapons significantly contributes to crime. A closer examination of the data and context reveals that these lawful, controlled sales not only have a minimal impact on crime rates but also provide substantial financial benefits to taxpayers.

The term “gaslighting” refers to manipulating someone into questioning their reality. Applying this term to the media coverage of police gun resales suggests that CBS and other outlets are deliberately distorting the truth to mislead the public. Let’s examine whether this accusation holds water.

Sensationalized Reporting

Selective Highlighting: CBS and other media outlets often emphasize individual cases where police guns have been used in crimes. These stories, while dramatic, represent a very small fraction of overall violent crime. For instance, CBS News highlighted that over a 16-year period, 52,000 police guns were found at crime scenes. While that number seems significant, it pales in comparison to the millions of legal guns purchased and put into circulation each year.

Lack of Context: Many of these so-called investigative news reports fail to provide the broader context. For example, the 3,245 police guns involved in crimes annually are a tiny fraction of the millions of guns owned by law abiding citizens. Without this context, the public might believe that police gun resales are a major driver of crime, which is not supported by the data.

Misleading Statistics: Many of these so-called investigative news reports fail to provide the broader context. The reports often cite that over a 16-year period, more than 52,000 police guns were recovered from crime scenes, averaging around 3,245 per year. (The Trace)​​ While this number might seem alarming, it represents only a tiny fraction of the total number of guns in circulation annually. The FBI and ATF data suggest there are hundreds of thousands of guns each year, meaning police guns account for just over 1% of these weapons. Without this context, the public might believe that police gun resales are a major driver of crime, which is not supported by the data.

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Financial & Legal Truths

Economic Benefits & Offsetting Taxpayer Spending: Police departments across the country often resell or trade in their old firearms to fund new equipment. This practice can save taxpayers substantial amounts of money. For instance, if a department trades in 1,000 guns at an estimated resale value of $200 each, this could generate $200,000, which can be used to offset the cost of new, more advanced equipment. This practice can save taxpayers significant money, as highlighted by the potential $200,000 savings. These transactions are legal and controlled, conducted through licensed dealers who follow federal regulations, including background checks.

Regulated Sales: The guns are sold through licensed dealers who must adhere to strict federal laws. This ensures that the sales are above-board and the guns are not directly available to criminals. The narrative that these sales are a significant source of guns for criminals ignores these safeguards.

Anti-Gun Agenda

Coordinated Efforts: Organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety and The Trace, funded by Michael Bloomberg, have a clear agenda to promote stricter gun control. By focusing on police gun resales, they aim to sway public opinion in favor of more regulation. Their reports often conveniently omit the fact that stolen guns, including stolen police surplus guns and illegal trafficking, are the primary sources of guns that violent criminals use.

Public Perception: The consistent emphasis on the dangers of police gun resales is just an attempt to create a skewed public perception. This can lead to calls for unnecessary regulation, diverting attention from more significant sources of illegal firearms.

Don’t Fall for the Media Lies

Labeling the media coverage as “gaslighting” might be harsh, but there is a clear pattern of sensationalism and selective reporting. By emphasizing rare cases and omitting broader context, CBS and similar outlets contribute to a misleading narrative. The data shows that police gun resales are a minor factor in overall crime, and these sales provide essential funding for law enforcement. Recognizing the influence of anti-gun groups in shaping this narrative is crucial for a balanced understanding of the issue.

Sources

1. Everytown Research & Policy: Everytown Research
2. Crime Gun Intelligence Center Initiative: CGIC
3. OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting): Portland Crime Rates Dropped in 2023
4. Ocala-News.com: Crime in Ocala, Florida

The evidence suggests that while police gun resales are not without minor issues, their contribution to crime is minimal as compared to other sources of illegal firearms.

About Tred Law

Tred Law is your everyday patriot with a deep love for this country and a no-compromise approach to the Second Amendment. He does not write articles for Ammoland every week, but when he does write, it is usually about liberals Fing with his right to keep and bear arms.