Benchmade just stepped in it with both feet.

[T.Lex]

I do not have any Benchmade knives.

Therefore, only I am the appropriate leader of the Benchmade Truth and Reconciliation Reconversion Therapy Committee ("BTRRTC"... but we're coming up with a different acronym). Prove your outrage by sending your Benchmades to me.

 

[Gabriel]

Foolish to publicize photos on a website, of a politically sensitive topic.

Foolish to destroy property that could have been sold to pay for police equipment. Definitely would sell for more than scrap prices. That makes the judge and the PD look stupid. Poor stewards of the communities funds.

If the guns were mechanically unsafe and unrepairable to saleable condition, part them out.

I own Benchmade blades but for me to continue to support them, they need to think b4 they donate gun chopping services. Dems buy knives too, I'm sure, but avoiding this fiasco would have shown better judgement. PD can buy their own cutoff saw.

In this current political climate, I doubt many departments resell firearms they have accumulated. The PR nightmare that would follow if one of those was used in a crime later is likely more concerning than the small amount of revenue it would generate. I don't agree with it, but it is where were are now.

 

[rhino]

The assistance with destroying the firearms is going to provoke emotional reactions on both side, but overall I don't see it as that big of a deal given "the rest of the story." It wasn't a great idea in my opinion, but . . .

The contributions to Democrat political candidates, on the other hand, is far more troubling. Some explanation of those choices would certainly seem to be in order for a company whose customer base includes a segment that has a strong interest in opposing the actions of almost all national-level Democrats.

Along those lines, what about the other US-based knife manufactures? I suspect that if that if the same data were presented about all of them, we'd have some surprises. I would be very surprised if Buck or especially TOPS or ESEE paid a significant amount to Democrat candidates, but I would be less surprised by some of the others.

 

[Bigtanker]

 

[K_W]

Ouch.

 

[ljk]

They donated to out of state politicians as well.

Really? They said they can’t.

https://www.benchmade.com/charitable-contributions



[h=1]BENCHMADE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS[/h][h=3]ELIGIBILITY & TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION [/h][FONT=&quot]We support organizations and activities that emphasize:

• Education & Community
• Law Enforcement
• Hunting & Conservation
• Military

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We are unable to support:

• Individuals
• Political Campaigns
• Religious Organizations
• General PTO or PTA Groups

[/FONT]

• Please submit your organizations 501c3 tax-exempt ID number, non 501c3 organizations are unlikely to meet giving requirements.
• We request submissions be completed 60 days prior to needing a decision or support.
• We are able to consider one request per organization in 12-month period.
• Only donation requests submitted via Benchmade.com will be considered.

 

[Streck-Fu]

[FONT=&quot]Udall, Mark (D-CO) and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Heinrich, Martin (D-NM)[/FONT][FONT=&quot] is listed as a Recipient on Open-Secrets. Maybe it was the owners as individuals but still...[/FONT]

 

[raptrbreth]

If I am not mistaken, some states do not allow the PD to resell weapons. If I had to guess (too lazy to look for their regs), Oregon being way left for the most part, is one of those states.

 

[JettaKnight]

[FONT=&amp]Udall, Mark (D-CO) and [/FONT][FONT=&amp]Heinrich, Martin (D-NM)[/FONT][FONT=&amp] is listed as a Recipient on Open-Secrets. Maybe it was the owners as individuals but still...[/FONT]

The Former now has a an "F" rating, the latter an "A" from the NRA. (per Wikipedia)

Really? They said they can’t.

The site there is soliciting recipients for charitable contribution, i.e. tax deductions for them.


Political contributions are a horse of a different color.

 

[cce1302]

"the guns needed to be destroyed" is a logical conclusion from the premise "the guns are the problem."

Benchmade, the police department, the judge, and some of you have bought into that premise and invested yourselves emotionally in it.

I do not, and I never will.

 

[T.Lex]

States' rights.

If a state says that guns used in crimes should be destroyed and not re-sold, then that's up to the state. And the voters in that state.

I think that's a stupid policy, but I don't live there. But I do live in a state that has a policy for how to determine how and when guns will be destroyed. I think that's a stupid policy too, but good luck changing it.

 

[Tula47]

In this current political climate, I doubt many departments resell firearms they have accumulated. The PR nightmare that would follow if one of those was used in a crime later is likely more concerning than the small amount of revenue it would generate. I don't agree with it, but it is where were are now.

Lots and lots of departments sell confiscated firearms. Century has an entire page of them and I get email about every other month with their new "inventory" of confiscated firearms. I purchased one cheapo single shot for a customer and the gun still had the evidence tag still on the butt.

 

[K_W]

States' rights.

If a state says that guns used in crimes should be destroyed and not re-sold, then that's up to the state. And the voters in that state.

I think that's a stupid policy, but I don't live there. But I do live in a state that has a policy for how to determine how and when guns will be destroyed. I think that's a stupid policy too, but good luck changing it.

Still have no obligation to assist the government in carring out the law, especially if it would look terrible your company if for some reason somebody would happen to take a photo of you doing it and uploaded it to social media.

 

[Fargo]

States' rights.

If a state says that guns used in crimes should be destroyed and not re-sold, then that's up to the state. And the voters in that state.

I think that's a stupid policy, but I don't live there. But I do live in a state that has a policy for how to determine how and when guns will be destroyed. I think that's a stupid policy too, but good luck changing it.

Indiana has a statute mandating the destruction of certain firearms?

 

[T.Lex]

Indiana has a statute mandating the destruction of certain firearms?

Re-read what I wrote. There's rules about how and when guns will be destroyed. IIRC, at the municipal level, they can be auctioned or destroyed. My recollection is that some municipalities opt to destroy the ones unclaimed or unclaimable.

IC 35-47-3-2.

That was quick googling, I feel like there's more to it.

Shouldn't be any reason to destroy a functioning firearm. Sell it to a dealer or have it sold on consignment. Revert the proceeds to the general fund. Mo money.

 

[jsharmon7]

I keep reading (other forums) that this is being perceived as a political statement by BM? First, the police posted the pictures, not BM. Second, does anyone honestly believe that BM thinks their customer base is mostly anti-gun Democrats? You don’t even need to do market research to know that’s crazy. There is no way a marketing department would agree to this.

 

[Fargo]

Re-read what I wrote. There's rules about how and when guns will be destroyed. IIRC, at the municipal level, they can be auctioned or destroyed. My recollection is that some municipalities opt to destroy the ones unclaimed or unclaimable.

IC 35-47-3-2.

That was quick googling, I feel like there's more to it.

Shouldn't be any reason to destroy a functioning firearm. Sell it to a dealer or have it sold on consignment. Revert the proceeds to the general fund. Mo money.

I read “will be destroyed” differently than you. It was an honest question, I was wondering if there was a statute I was unaware of.

 

[K_W]

Does anyone honestly believe that BM thinks their customer base is mostly anti-gun Democrats?

Judging by the response on social media, it's about to be.

 

[JettaKnight]

Judging by the response on social media, it's about to be.

Great. Now we have to pick the right knife for our group.



Can't we just stop all this nonsense?

 

[Trigger Time]

Great. Now we have to pick the right knife for our group.



Can't we just stop all this nonsense?

No its time to pick sides in this country. No more playing the middle. I know a lot of pansies are going to be upset by that, having to untuck their junk and be a man for once in their life but its past time.