Weapons to be fashioned into longhorn figure

[Paladin]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/15387529.htm

"Posted on Tue, Aug. 29, 2006
Disarming work of art
Weapons to be fashioned into longhorn figure
By RUTH RENDON
Houston Chronicle

LEAGUE CITY -- It was high noon at the League City Police Department when Terry Jones faced off against a .357-caliber revolver.

Jones won. His weapon of choice: a stick welder.

The metal sculptor from Jewett wielded the welder to make the shiny Smith & Wesson weapon, and more than 100 others confiscated by police, inoperable.

In return, Jones gets to use the weapons to create a longhorn sculpture for the city's Butler Longhorn Museum, which honors the bovine bloodline that originated in League City.

The museum is in its infancy, but Jones' unusual style of artwork caught the attention of curator Jennifer Wycoff-van der Wal. She got the project rolling and contacted Jones, and the police agreed to let Jones destroy the weapons and then use them.

"These are of no use for us," police spokesman Sgt. Dan Krieger said as he looked over the revolvers, pistols, shotguns and assault rifles in an evidence room. "A judge ordered that they be destroyed."

Olga Midyett, the department's evidence manager, said the department had collected the weapons since 2001. The smaller weapons were in storage bins, the rifles in a trash can.

If not for Jones, the department would have taken the weapons to the city's vehicle maintenance department and have had someone weld them and then cut them in half, Krieger said.

Jones helped carry the guns outside to a portable welding machine on the back of his pickup. One by one, Midyett handed the guns to Jones, who took the welding stick to each.

Most of the firearms were collected during routine traffic stops or confiscated from felons, Krieger said. The only weapon of note was a Taurus semiautomatic pistol used in an armed robbery at a Sonic Drive-In in June 2001. The suspect in the case, Terry Lionell Graham, 27, was convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to five years in prison.

As he surveyed the collection, Jones said, "I like the big stainless steel pistols for my artwork. They are nice and shiny."

The double-barreled shotguns will form the longhorn's nose, he said.

Jones incorporates all kinds of metals and artifacts into his sculptures, which are valued at $40 to $30,000.

A 10-acre complex is being turned into a museum that will commemorate rancher Milby Butler, who began breeding the animal known for its long twisted horns and red-and-white speckled coloring."

[Scott Murray]

It's a shame. I'm preaching to the choir, but most of those guns were greater works of art before they were torched.

This seems to be another reflection of our society's hopnophobia. If vehicles or other property are confiscated from criminals, the law enforcement agency is allowed to acquire and use it. If it's surplus to their needs, it's auctioned off, and the proceeds used for law enforcement.

Why should guns be any different?

Scott

[anygunanywhere]

I have heard about the museum, and was looking forward to visiting.

Methinks the antis are sneaking into my personal space. I appreciate art. This is not art.

Anygun

[KBCraig]

*ahem*...

Until the ATF says they're destroyed, they're still firearms, no matter how unuseable they are. What an interesting thing it would be if there turned out to be some kind of problem with such a "transfer"...

[John]

Sure hope he clears the chambers before hitting a welding rod to them.

[dws1117]

I saw that storey and wanted to cry.

[Paladin]

I saw that storey and wanted to cry.

The scary part is that if it can happen in League City, it can happen anywhere.

[KinnyLee]

[aguyindallas]

I saw this guy on the news about a week ago and just wanted to puke. A lot of history, good and bad is down the tubes.

Its sort of like seeing an old classic car go to the crusher...just sad.

[Glockamolie]

If it makes you feel any better, the vast majority are probably Lorcin and Davis and a host of other fine weapons. Can you even weld zinc?

[KBCraig]

Can you even weld zinc?

If they get any RGs, they'll have to JB-Weld them on.

[Madsmiley]

And people wonder why NFA goodies are a rare thing around here...

[jimlongley]

One Texas museum I will never be visiting, and since when is stainless steel shiney?

[Diode]

[64zebra]

yep, sad

our PD here recently auctioned off pistols and long guns that were in their vaults, some good deals, others were junk