Program Aims to Collect Guns of Deceased

Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies have launched a program to collect some of the thousands of handguns that belonged to people who have died, in a bid to round up weapons before they reach criminals.

About 20 handguns have been turned in, and there have been 40 additional inquiries from residents who believe they have handguns passed on to relatives after the death of a loved one, said Det. Ray Herrick, head of the department’s pistol license unit.

“For some people these guns are as close to them as their pets and kids,” said Herrick, who added that many people do not want to give up their family weapons. “They are part of their lives.”

Herrick said there were at least 12,000 weapons unaccounted for over the last five years, which the unit wants to trace. They also want to research the whereabouts of guns from as far back as the 1930s.

“We had a pistol license for a guy who was 75 in 1938,” Herrick said. “Where is his gun now?”

Under state law, residents are required to either hand over a licensed gun to police within 15 days of the death of a licensed pistol holder or apply for a permit themselves. After 15 days, they can be charged with a misdemeanor.

“We are not confiscating them,” Herrick said. “We are taking custody of them for safety reasons so they can be disposed of properly.”

State Police officials said the Onondaga County program is the first of its kind in the state to track down a deceased person’s guns.