AUSTIN, Texas — The sale or trade-in of old Austin police firearms to licensed gun dealers is no longer allowed after Austin City Council's resolution approval on Thursday.

Any retired weapons that are not purchased by APD or certified peace officers will be broken down and sold as scrap metal instead.

"The Austin Police Department recently traded in a large number of firearms to a gun dealer for resale, and existing laws do not prevent the possibility that firearms sold to a license gun dealer could be purchased to an individual who would fail background check standards or resale or transfer the weapon to an individual with criminal intentions," Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, as well as Council Members Sabino 'Pio' Renteria, Leslie Pool and Alison Alter, the sponsor, argued in the resolution.

Also, because there is no process for tracking whether gun sold by APD can enter the hands of someone with violent intent, supporters of the resolution argued recycling the materials was the next best option.