Just like Honolulu destroyed the replaced HPD firearms, Tucson wants to destroy all the firearms in custody from crimes. The difference being that in Arizona there is a state law prohibiting such destruction. Alan Korwin states it nicely, in my view.

http://pagenine.typepad.com/page_nine/2016/12/tucson-melting-guns-again.html

Tucson Melting Guns. Again

This is public property of enormous value and cannot be wantonly senselessly destroyed. The reason these guns are being municipally melted is a sign of a sickness -- hoplophobia -- and pure gunism, blind hatred, with flagrant disregard for private property and the rule of law. The people who implement these policies need remedial counseling, possibly even penalties.

FBI background check registrations are insufficient to these people. They begged and pleaded and campaigned for background checks, and now want more, but they're obviously not enough. The smelter is the real issue.

This is the topic Tucson raises -- violation of law by elected officials in pursuit of the same irrational perverse goal their fellow leftists pursue at everyone's dangerous expense. It is an impossible attempt to quench their paranoid fears by suppressing the rights of innocent people everywhere. The notion of guns in the public's hands is simply unacceptable to them. It's not political, it's medical, they're hoplophobic, and a dire threat to freedom. Their unbalanced actions qualify them for removal from setting public policy and destroying valuable public property in the process, in violation of law.

Any guns confiscated should be returned to the rightful owner, assuming the rightful owner is legally allowed to possess.

That's would be the common sense thing.

Theft by government no matter how they spin it.   Bottom line do not let them confiscate anything willingly.