House Passes Bill Prohibiting Local Government Buyback Programs

The Texas House on Tuesday passed a bill that would prevent local governments from organizing or sponsoring voluntary gun buyback programs to reduce the number of firearms in circulation.

House Bill 3053 prohibits cities and counties from organizing, sponsoring or participating in any program that purchases or offers to purchase guns with the intent to accomplish any of the following:

• “Remove firearms from circulation;
• “Reduce the number of firearms owned by civilians; or
• “Allow individuals to sell firearms without fear of criminal prosecution.”

That prohibition would apply retroactively, too. HB 3053 would nullify any existing city or county buyback programs because it also prohibits them from enforcing any existing “ordinance, order or other measure.”

Local governments in Texas have implemented buyback programs in the past. During floor debate on the policy on Tuesday, Austin Democratic Rep. Vikki Goodwin referenced remarks from another lawmaker that local governments had spent $2 million on gun buyback programs.

Goodwin and other Democratic House members on Tuesday denounced the proposal as an infringing on local authority to spend money and establish programs that best serve their residents — even if those programs are ineffective at curbing gun violence, as proponents argued.

The bill’s author, Brady Republican Rep. Wes Virdell, found strong support for the bill within his party. Other backers noted that governments still could offer “free” gun buyback programs under the change, though that would remove the financial incentive that attracts many participants.

HB 3053 passed out of the Texas House just a few minutes after noon on Tuesday by a vote of 85-56.

With final approval in the House, the bill heads to the more conservative Senate, where it is likely to find enough support to secure passage.

The House is scheduled to consider several other gun policy bills on Tuesday, including a proposal that would punish businesses for using incorrect signage to signal a gun prohibition on their property.