That's property that belongs to the citizens. For them to destroy the guns instead of trying to find a legal way to get money for them is a breach of their fiduciary duty to their constituents.
Just think of what the crime rate in Chicago would be if those guns were on the streets! [sarcasm]
Maybe crime is still way high in Chicago because the guns emit an aura of evil, turning otherwise upstanding young, urban, minority gang members to a life of crime and violence? [sarcasm too]