Pa. coroner auctioning off guns used in suicides

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania coroner is auctioning off about 100 guns used in suicides and accidental shooting deaths.

Corner Ken Bacha says the Nov. 8 surplus weapons sale is Westmoreland County government’s first since his father was coroner in the 1980s.

He says state law requires local governments sell off unclaimed property. Proceeds will help fund county government.

Bacha’s office took possession of the guns during death investigations. Family members had a year to get them back before they became county property. Some of the weapons have been in the county’s hands for decades.

Bacha says guns were used in 34 of the 55 suicides in the county last year.

No weapons used in homicides are being auctioned off. They’re kept in storage for use as evidence.