The FBI and the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force have seized so many guns that it's beginning to be a problem. They want to destroy a total of 267 of them — the grenade launcher, the Ar-15s, the Tec-9s — and each agency filed paperwork on Wednesday in the the United States District Court in Cleveland for permission to do so.
Without court approval, "the FBI will be required to maintain, at an ever increasing cost, custody and control of the firearms, ammunition and related accessories for an indefinite period of time," the agency's filing says. The FBI's list contains 116 guns seized from criminals during their investigations. The list packs some heat, including a "Colt 40mm grenade launcher, Model M203" (in the main picture of this post). Colt's website description of that is pretty nuts (emphasis ours):
The Colt M203 Grenade Launcher is a lightweight, single-shot, breech-loaded 40mm weapon specifically designed to be attached to the M4 Carbine and the M16A2 and A4 Rifles. It creates a versatile combination weapon system, capable of firing both 5.56mm rifle ammunition as well as the complete range of 40mm high explosive and special purpose ammunitions. A complete self-cocking firing mechanism, including barrel latch, trigger and positive safety lever is included in the receiver, which allows the M203 to be operated as a completely independent weapon even though attached to the Colt M4 Carbine or the Colt M16A4 Rifle. The M203 provides Colt M4 Carbines and Colt M16A2/A4 Rifles with breaching, defilade, and area engagement capabilities, making it an essential tool for every modern army.
Here's an old-school video about that kind of thing:
Also in the FBI's list are:
An "Italian M-16 .22 rifle, manufactured by Armi Jager, Model A.P.":
A "Desert Eagle .40 caliber pistol":
An "Intratec Tec-9 9mm:
Read FBI's filing here, with the full list of the 116 guns starting on page 7:
The Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force is headed by the FBI and the Cleveland Police Department, and headquartered in the U.S. Attorney's office in Cleveland. Here's their filing listing the 141 seized guns they want permission to destroy:
And somewhere in America, an NRA member sheds a single tear...
