915-9. Firearms Confiscation and Disposal.
(a) Any firearm fired or discharged in violation of the provisions of this chapter is, upon a conviction of the defendant, or upon a juvenile court finding that a violation of this chapter was committed by the juvenile, a nuisance, and may be surrendered to the Sheriff of Humboldt County. The Sheriff, except upon the certification of a judge of a court or record, or of the District Attorney of Humboldt County, that the preservation thereof is necessary or proper to the ends of justice, may annually offer the weapons for sale at public auction. If a weapon is not of the type that can be sold to the public, generally, or is not sold pursuant to this section, the weapon shall be destroyed, unless the Board of Supervisors shall by resolution, upon recommendation of the Sheriff, provide for and direct disposal of such weapon in a lawful manner other than by destruction. (Ord. 1828, § 2, 4/19/1988)
(b) If any weapon surrendered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section has been stolen and is thereafter recovered from the thief or his/her transferee, it shall not be offered for sale or destroyed but shall be restored to the lawful owner thereof, as soon as its use as evidence has been served, upon his or her identification of the weapon and proof of ownership. No stolen weapon shall be sold or destroyed pursuant to this section unless reasonable notice is given to its lawful owner, if his/her or identity and address can be reasonably ascertained.
Figure 1.
(Ord. 1828, § 2, 4/19/1988)