The State Highway Patrol is defending its practice of trading, rather than destroying, guns that troopers no longer use. The practice has come in for criticism following word that it was a former Highway Patrol gun that was used in last week’s workplace shootings in Jefferson City. The Patrol’s Captain Chris Ricks says it only makes sense for the Highway Patrol to take advantage of an opportunity to upgrade equipment at low or no cost. Ricks says any person who wants to legally buy a gun can do so at any of the state’s gun shops and will be able to buy that legal weapon whether or not it was formerly owned by the Highway Patrol.
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