Hartselle Police Chief Ron Puckett is considering selling confiscated and abandoned weapons in exchange for getting new tasers for his police officers.

Puckett said the weapons, including numerous guns, have been collecting in the police department’s storage for years, to the point that they are needing to clear space in the department.

HPD contacted Gulf States Distributors about selling the guns back in exchange for credits with the company. Gulf States Distributors, which is the only supplier of tasers for Alabama law enforcement agencies, has agreed to buy them back for $9,685.

Puckett said he hopes to use that credit to purchase more tasers for his officers.

“Most of the guns are from closed cases or have been abandoned,” Puckett said. “By selling them back to Gulf States, we can use that credit to help us purchase more tasers for the department without spending any taxpayer money.”

HPD currently only has six tasers for the entire department, which means there are only enough the on-duty officers to carry them. Once their shift ends, the tasers are passed along to the next shift.

Puckett said the tasers cost more than $1,000 apiece.

“In the past, we have usually had the guns cut up and sold the scrap metal,” Puckett said. “We could sell the guns to the public, but that is something we haven’t normally done.

“That’s why we decided to contact Gulf States. They can help us get more tasers, which is something we need.”

Puckett said most of these weapons could be resold by Gulf States Distributors after certain specifications are met by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

HPD can begin with this process once it is cleared by city attorney Larry Madison.