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N.J.'s Way Of Eliminating Guns: Burn Them

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Jul 16, 2007 7:08 pm US/Eastern

N.J.'s Way Of Eliminating Guns: Burn Them

All Types Of Illegal Firearms Heading For Incinerators

by Christine Sloan
NEWARK (CBS) ― Handguns, rifles and even assault weapons. In all, more than 2,000 guns seized in various situations are now being kept out of criminals' hands for good.

But how can you guarantee that?

So far this year, there have been 78 homicides in Essex County, the majority of them law enforcement officials said were committed with a gun.

"Rest assured, every one of these guns was used in a crime and chances one or two used in a murder is very, very good," said Armando Fontoura of the Essex County Sheriff's Department.

Assault and semi-automatic weapons, as well as sawed-off shotguns, were confiscated from criminals in cities like Newark and Belleville.

Over 500 of them ended up in an incinerator Monday morning, melted, turned into a ball of metal as part of county program to get illegal guns off the streets.

"The destruction of these weapons, these firearms which were once in the hands of criminals ensures they won't get back out on the streets," said Essex County Prosecutor Paul Dow.

The county has destroyed over 800 guns. It plans on sending the latest weapons seized to the incinerator as well.

"This isn't about target practice hunting, this is about killing," Sen. Robert Menendez said.

Menendez argues destroying weapons isn't enough. He wants to repeal the Tiahrt amendment, which he says restricts the ATF from sharing information it collects on guns used in crimes.

"I don't understand why it is that law enforcement in our country can't be able to trace weapons such as this," Menendez said.

Authorities plan on melting 2,000 weapons but said the task of stopping gun violence is overwhelming, that this is just a small sampling of what's on the streets.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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