MCSO looking to sell thousands of guns kept in storage

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is doing a bit of spring cleaning and seeking buyers to purchase thousands of guns the agency has in storage.

“It’s going to be coming from a collection of weapons over the years from various different crime,” Lt. Brandon Jones said.

MCSO will be selling the guns in bulk — lots of 1,000 — that include pistols, rifles and shotguns.

“A lot of these are what we call RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) weapons, or weapons seized in drug offenses or when we’ve taken down a drug house and there’s some weapons in there,” Jones said.

Potential buyers got their first look at the stockpile on Tuesday. Jones said buyers are being vetted through a screening process by the county’s Office of Procurement Services, which is handling the sale.

“These people are legitimate businesses and not, you know, John Smith from the street or what have you,” Jones said.

Jones estimated the sale will generate at least $150,000 for the county’s general fund.