Former Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy’s surrendered guns to be sold or destroyed

Former Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy has relinquished the 10 guns he turned over to authorities last year after his domestic violence arrest, a Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said Wednesday.

Hardy, now with the Dallas Cowboys, surrendered the weapons as part of a judge’s order last May after his ex-girlfriend told authorities Hardy kept 25 to 30 firearms at his two Charlotte residences.

But Hardy will not be reclaiming the guns, which include at least six military-type, semi-automatic rifles and three 12-gauge shotguns.

“The attorney on behalf of Mr. Hardy has relinquished the weapons and they remain in the property of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office,” spokesman Rob Brisley said.

Brisley said the firearms would be destroyed or auctioned off this year.

Hardy’s guns were all legal. There is no limit on how many assault weapons someone can legally buy and no requirement to report those purchases to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency is alerted only to buyers of multiple handguns.

Wednesday marked a year since Hardy’s arrest, which followed an early-morning altercation at his Charlotte condominium after a night of partying.

In a bench trial, a district judge found Hardy guilty of misdemeanor charges of assaulting and threatening to kill Nicole Holder last July. He immediately appealed, and the charges were dismissed in February after prosecutors could not find Holder to testify at Hardy’s jury trial.

District attorney Andrew Murray said Hardy reached a settlement with Holder for an undisclosed sum to take care of any potential civil claims.

Hardy, who signed a one-year deal with Dallas in March, was suspended for 10 games by commissioner Roger Goodell in April. Hardy appealed the suspension, and the appeal is scheduled to be heard by an independent arbitrator this month.

Hardy played in only one game last season but made $13.1 million with the Panthers, who used the franchise tag on Hardy two months before his arrest.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Former Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy’s surrendered guns to be sold or destroyed."