Before you shed any tears, I want you to review the attached pictures and see if there are any rifles you would have saved from destruction in Kenya. A cursory search shows at least a few Yugoslavian AKs, HK-91s and maybe even a single shot break-action H&R rifle or shotgun. Emotions aside, low temperature burning is probably an inefficient way to destroy guns – we have some talented gunsmiths around these parts that might be able to make parts kits from those AKs.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s deputy president on Tuesday set ablaze more than 5,250 firearms seized by authorities to discourage the circulation of illegal weapons in a country battling extremist violence.

Deputy President William Ruto presided over the burning of rifles and pistols in three stacks about 15 feet high. They were recovered in this East African country over the past nine years, Ruto said. Most of the firearms were collected through voluntary surrender, others from violent criminals that were recovered by security personnel and some from the government’s disarmament efforts, he said.

Kenya has stringent gun laws and obtaining a license is difficult. Applicants must go through several interviews and background checks. Despite the precautions, hundreds of illegal guns are smuggled into Kenya through porous borders, especially from Somalia, Kenya’s war-torn neighbor to the north. Authorities estimate that at least 500,000 guns are illegally held by civilians.

Kenya has been attacked more than 100 times by Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, who have recruited hundreds of Kenyans. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending its troops into Somalia to fight the militants in 2011. The extemists’ most deadly attacks were carried by gunmen wielding rifles including the assault on Westgate Mall in which 67 people died in 2013 and the April, 2015 attack by four gunmen on Garissa University which killed 148 people, mostly students.

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

AP Photo/Ben Curtis