Benchmade gun destruction

[jar]

It doesn’t. But BM giving money to elect political candidates who are unabashedly anti-2A would hurt your 2nd amendment rights in a real, fundamental way.

The way you make an impact and get your position heard by politicians unfortunately is often by contributions in the US today. And the only way to change a politicians position is to educate them on your position. That can only be done by communicating with them.

 

[mgresh]

Why not just cut the check directly to the anti gun legislators they are passing your money on to?

I can only assume you don't do business with any company that donates anything to any Democrats?

 

[Wisco]

I’m not going to hit the ignore button on him, because I like to know when a Troll is around.

I have a feeling I’ll still be able to smell its presence through surrounding context.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

The way you make an impact and get your position heard by politicians unfortunately is often by contributions in the US today. And the only way to change a politicians position is to educate them on your position. That can only be done by communicating with them.

And? BM can give money to whoever they want and communicate to whoever they want. So can you, and so can I. Still a (somewhat) free country. The person I was responding apparently doesn’t see the duplicity in BM’s actions (selling to largely 2A segment while communicating to anti-2A pols and helping to elect them). That was the target of my response.

Look, I’m asked several times a year to chip in to my company’s pac. Last year we gave $400k to politicians. 52% repub, 48% dem. They are very clear in stating they don’t take political stances, and are only looking out for their business interests. BM isn’t doing that.

 

[drobs]

The issue here is Benchmade is supporting anti-gun politicians financially via contributions and via their labor in destroying these guns for a anti-gun mayor and sheriff.
Oregon law allows confiscated guns to be sold. This destruction of these firearms is a department policy.

The public gets a chance to hold Mayors and Sheriffs accountable come election time. Let's hope they remember this.

And to Gunny - is your sheriff anti-gun or does he just like to throw away $$$$$?
https://www.atf.gov/file/117241/download

Seems other Sheriffs in Louisiana auction confiscated firearms.
http://www.bonnetteauctions.com/sheriff-department-auction-seized-guns/

if nothing else, a common practice is to cut the frames up and sell the guns to dealers as parts kits.
Examples:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Cats=0&Sort=13&IncludeSellers=778456
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800555292
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800556137
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800556455

 

[mgresh]

Geez guys, BM is located in one of the most liberal cities in the country. They are not trying to get dems elected - they know the dems WILL be elected. They are attempting to play damage control and not make enemies that can have control over their business fate.

Or maybe they just figure a knife business may do ok if there are no guns....

 

[LRDGCO]

The issue here is Benchmade is supporting anti-gun politicians financially via contributions

Again, that is a perception. That their PAC has made contributions to Dems is presumably a matter of record. It may well be correct that they have done so to promote gun control. But unless there is evidence of an anti-2A position at BM, say contributions to Bloomberg's Every town nonsense or to the Brady Bunch, the reality is that the politicians that they have to deal with in Oregon are predominantly Dem and probably fairly hard left.

The person that runs their PAC and the PAC Board have to make recommendations of political support based on the best interests of the company and its employees. And nothing else. I am in no position to know whether the management of BM are anti-gun. But political contributions to hard left Dems do not, in and of themselves, signify or confirm an anti-gun position by the company. Letting their name and pics be used to promote the Police Chief's anti-gun publicity stunt shows a tone deafness that does not bode well for them, but stupidity is as likely as any other explanation.

As President Trump noted during the Primary debates when attacked for his many years of contributions to liberal New York Democrats, including Hilary Clinton, "I'm a businessman. Making payments to politicians is a cost of doing business. The politicians where I do business are mostly Democrats." Given the thumping the President has given Democrats since 2016, I don't think he can be portrayed as a Democratic sympathizer...

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The issue here is Benchmade is supporting anti-gun politicians financially via contributions and via their labor in destroying these guns for a anti-gun mayor and sheriff.
Oregon law allows confiscated guns to be sold. This destruction of these firearms is a department policy.

The public gets a chance to hold Mayors and Sheriffs accountable come election time. Let's hope they remember this.

And to Gunny - is your sheriff anti-gun or does he just like to throw away $$$$$?
https://www.atf.gov/file/117241/download

Seems other Sheriffs in Louisiana auction confiscated firearms.
http://www.bonnetteauctions.com/sheriff-department-auction-seized-guns/

if nothing else, a common practice is to cut the frames up and sell the guns to dealers as parts kits.
Examples:
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Cats=0&Sort=13&IncludeSellers=778456
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800555292
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800556137
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/800556455

I don’t work for the Sheriff’s office. I work for the City Police. Our department has a policy that can be adjusted, but the Chief and the Mayor have a lot to do with that. It was decided years ago that the money they could make from selling guns was not worth what one lawsuit would cost.
I needed magazines for test firing guns that didn’t have magazines. The magazines were being destroyed along with the old evidence guns. I had to write a letter requesting that magazines be donated to the state lab for firearms testing. Sounds simple right. That took two years to get approval.
There was one Captain that was so afraid that the mags would get out into the public and come back on the department.

 

[drobs]

Again, that is a perception. That their PAC has made contributions to Dems is presumably a matter of record. It may well be correct that they have done so to promote gun control. But unless there is evidence of an anti-2A position at BM, say contributions to Bloomberg's Every town nonsense or to the Brady Bunch, the reality is that the politicians that they have to deal with in Oregon are predominantly Dem and probably fairly hard left.

The person that runs their PAC and the PAC Board have to make recommendations of political support based on the best interests of the company and its employees. And nothing else. I am in no position to know whether the management of BM are anti-gun. But political contributions to hard left Dems do not, in and of themselves, signify or confirm an anti-gun position by the company. Letting their name and pics be used to promote the Police Chief's anti-gun publicity stunt shows a tone deafness that does not bode well for them, but stupidity is as likely as any other explanation.

As President Trump noted during the Primary debates when attacked for his many years of contributions to liberal New York Democrats, including Hilary Clinton, "I'm a businessman. Making payments to politicians is a cost of doing business. The politicians where I do business are mostly Democrats." Given the thumping the President has given Democrats since 2016, I don't think he can be portrayed as a Democratic sympathizer...

And do you personally think that is a good idea? Would you contribute to anti-gun politician to further your business goals?

Per:
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000047693&type=P&state=&sort=A&cycle=2016

BM sent $9500 to this guy:
http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Ron_Wyden_Gun_Control.htm

 

[jar]

And? BM can give money to whoever they want and communicate to whoever they want. So can you, and so can I. Still a (somewhat) free country. The person I was responding apparently doesn’t see the duplicity in BM’s actions (selling to largely 2A segment while communicating to anti-2A pols and helping to elect them). That was the target of my response.

Look, I’m asked several times a year to chip in to my company’s pac. Last year we gave $400k to politicians. 52% repub, 48% dem. They are very clear in stating they don’t take political stances, and are only looking out for their business interests. BM isn’t doing that.

BM may well be supporting the 2A by contributing to those who currently may not support what YOU consider appropriate. But it is the votes of Liberals that will be needed to preserve our 2A rights. Those are the very politicians we need to be talking with.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Boycott or not. I'm a supervisor in one of the highest production facilities in the world. If they were doing very good as a company they wouldn't be wasting shop time by doing this or anything but making knives and R&D If they were selling and didnt have inventory their seconds wouldn't be wasted for this.
They make good knives. I have some. I doubt I would ever buy another one regardless of all this because they never wear out and I think some others are Just as good for less now. If they come up with something i want..... sure.
As far as the donations. I drive vehicles from many companies. I have multiple brands of things in my home etc. I'm sure many companies donate to the dark side.

 

[Doc7]

SureFire?

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

BM may well be supporting the 2A by contributing to those who currently may not support what YOU consider appropriate. But it is the votes of Liberals that will be needed to preserve our 2A rights. Those are the very politicians we need to be talking with.

BM holding their nose and supporting the least impactful candidate is supportive of the second amendment? That’s tantamount to entrusting your flintlock to the most earnest looking redcoat in the room.

No, I don’t need to be talking to liberal politicians.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Neither BM or SF is forced to remain where they are. At the core of liberty resides mobility. Companies don’t have to stay where they are-they relocate all the time...

 

[drobs]

I don’t work for the Sheriff’s office. I work for the City Police. Our department has a policy that can be adjusted, but the Chief and the Mayor have a lot to do with that. It was decided years ago that the money they could make from selling guns was not worth what one lawsuit would cost.
I needed magazines for test firing guns that didn’t have magazines. The magazines were being destroyed along with the old evidence guns. I had to write a letter requesting that magazines be donated to the state lab for firearms testing. Sounds simple right. That took two years to get approval.
There was one Captain that was so afraid that the mags would get out into the public and come back on the department.

How much does a pair of Colt Python grips sell for?

I'll answer my own question. $350 - thrown away by your Chief and Mayor.
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=Original Colt Python Grips

Sounds financially irresponsible to me. Maybe your voters will catch on to this and start holding politicians accountable.

 

[LRDGCO]

And do you personally think that is a good idea? Would you contribute to anti-gun politician to further your business goals?

Per:
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000047693&type=P&state=&sort=A&cycle=2016

BM sent $9500 to this guy:
http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Ron_Wyden_Gun_Control.htm

I'm not sure why this is hard to understand. Your lens is about BM making contributions to anti-gun politicians. Their lens is about making contributions to a powerful Senator that they have to deal with and the House Member for their District. I take it that in your professional career, you have never had to deal with the impact of government policy on your business, the livelihoods of your employees, etc.

Take Wyden, who I have had dealings with and despise. He is the ranking member on Senate Finance. I have had to talk to his staff about a tax credit that could have an enormously positive impact on the livelihoods and job security of the 1400 people that work at my company. I don't have the luxury of turning my nose up at Wyden, whose politics I despise, because my job is to protect the jobs of my fellow employees.

So, Benchmade in trying to protect their business from things like higher tax rates, or by trying to mitigate the impact of the Base Erosion Abuse Tax on their export earnings, things that the corporate officers have a fiduciary responsibility to the owners to do, will, by necessity, have to interact with him. And to be heard, they have to pay him. The fact that BM has made contributions to their powerful senior Senator and to the Representative from their district says NOTHING about their position on guns and 2A. It says that they recognize that under US campaign finance and lobbying rules, you have to pay to play.

As I pointed out earlier, other companies, like Magpul and Weatherby, when faced with an overwhelmingly hostile political environment and lack of politicians that represent their views and interests have moved. Perhaps this incident will spur such consideration by BM. But the fact that they have made the obligatory payments to the Dem pols that run Oregon says nothing about their 2A position.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Why? My dollars, my politics, my priorities.

I buy Magpul because they've made the rare move of moving out of a repressive regime instead of living with it. I don't do business with businesses that Post their premises, and I tell them why.

In both cases, I'm delighted that they have the freedom to choose. . . and that I have the same freedom. Why wouldn't you vote with your wallet?

I'm primarily disturbed because conservatives will lose that fight unless we relearn as a country how to do business with people who disagree with us. There are essentially no large consumer businesses whose cultures are conservative outside of the sporting goods industry.

Suppose all of the industries whose leadership is liberal/progressive decide to start brazenly denying service to or no-platforming conservatives. We've already seen with Twitter and Facebook how that can go, and some with banking and credit card processing as well.

It's one thing, and a reasonable one, to expect gun companies to support the Second Amendment. But if more general goods and services companies decide to vote with their wallets and stop doing business with conservatives and conservative institutions because their leaders and boards are largely liberal, and they are generally more susceptible to progressive campaigns than conservative ones... We're in trouble.

 

[chicharrones]

You could ask them not to come to your house anymore.

My last cop friend moved to Arizona. I wonder what I did to make him do that?

 

[drobs]

I'm not sure why this is hard to understand. Your lens is about BM making contributions to anti-gun politicians. Their lens is about making contributions to a powerful Senator that they have to deal with and the House Member for their District. I take it that in your professional career, you have never had to deal with the impact of government policy on your business, the livelihoods of your employees, etc.

Take Wyden, who I have had dealings with and despise. He is the ranking member on Senate Finance. I have had to talk to his staff about a tax credit that could have an enormously positive impact on the livelihoods and job security of the 1400 people that work at my company. I don't have the luxury of turning my nose up at Wyden, whose politics I despise, because my job is to protect the jobs of my fellow employees.

So, Benchmade in trying to protect their business from things like higher tax rates, or by trying to mitigate the impact of the Base Erosion Abuse Tax on their export earnings, things that the corporate officers have a fiduciary responsibility to the owners to do, will, by necessity, have to interact with him. And to be heard, they have to pay him. The fact that BM has made contributions to their powerful senior Senator and to the Representative from their district says NOTHING about their position on guns and 2A. It says that they recognize that under US campaign finance and lobbying rules, you have to pay to play.

As I pointed out earlier, other companies, like Magpul and Weatherby, when faced with an overwhelmingly hostile political environment and lack of politicians that represent their views and interests have moved. Perhaps this incident will spur such consideration by BM. But the fact that they have made the obligatory payments to the Dem pols that run Oregon says nothing about their 2A position.

So you are for trading Liberty for financial security. Noted.

 

[mgresh]

So you are for trading Liberty for financial security. Noted.

I don’t want to speak for him, but that’s not what he is saying at all. He’s just explaining what just about all businesses do.

 

[Elkins45]

I’m probably going to buy another Benchmade just because of this lol.

You are the literal definition of a troll. You contribute nothing but rancor to this site.

In KY if a crime gun can’t be returned to the owner it is required to be auctioned off to the highest bidding FFL to be returned to the community.

I own a bunch of Benchmade knives. That number is now fixed.

 

[FL-NC]

That sucks. I really like my 2 benchmade knives. I won't be cutting them up though. They are good knives and benchmade already made their $ on them. If I destroyed them or threw them in the river, I would just be out $ to replace them. But they won't be getting any more $ from me.

 

[MidRoad]

That sucks. I really like my 2 benchmade knives. I won't be cutting them up though. They are good knives and benchmade already made their $ on them. If I destroyed them or threw them in the river, I would just be out $ to replace them. But they won't be getting any more $ from me.

Sell them to "The Liberal" . Says he's going to go out and buy more Benchmade now. Than use the money received to pick up some more 30 round mags! That's a win ,win IMHO.

 

[The Liberal]

You would think that companies that have pro-RKBA folks as nearly their entire customer base would stop doing stupid stuff like this.

The sad fact is that the majority of Americans are now anti-RKBA, anti-freedom, anti-conservative, and the corporations are simply mirroring that trend.

We are not. We simply support reasonable limits to those rights.

 

[FL-NC]

Sell them to "The Liberal" . Says he's going to go out and buy more Benchmade now. Than use the money received to pick up some more 30 round mags! That's a win ,win IMHO.

Not the worst idea I've ever heard, but that clown is on the list of 2 people I ignore here. If everyone did that, a ban from the mods wouldn't be needed.