While weapon confiscations have become a statewide issue lately,local authorities say the issue is governed by policy in theirdepartments.

Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said if a gun is involvedin a domestic dispute, and is in plain sight, his officers willtake it away. The owner is then given instructions to get it backfrom the police station after a “cooling-off period.”

Under those circumstances, no charges are filed, the chiefsaid.

“If our officers confiscate a weapon they’ll bring it to thedepartment and if it wasn’t involved in the altercation, the ownerwon’t be charged with it,” he said. “But to allow things to settledown, it’s held here until I decide to give it back.”

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said in the case of adisturbance, his deputies are instructed to confiscate a weapon ifit’s somehow involved in a crime.

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