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(a) All firearms surrendered, seized or confiscated under the provisions of this chapter, shall be disposed of as provided in this section.\n(b) Any firearm unlawfully borne, possessed, transported or carried, is hereby declared a public nuisance and when any such weapon or instrument is seized by the police the same shall be delivered to the Commissioner. In the cases where criminal actions are filed, the judgment convicting the defendant shall, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed, carry with it the forfeiture in favor of the Government of the Virgin Islands of the firearm seized, and it shall be the duty of the court or judge to deliver the firearm so forfeited to the Commissioner who shall direct the disposition thereof.\n(c) Those firearms which are in good condition may be preserved by the Commissioner for governmental uses.\n(d) The Commissioner shall, whenever he may deem it advisable, and at least once a year, destroy and render completely unserviceable the firearms delivered to him under the provisions of this section, except when a certification is presented to him from a court, or the United States Attorney or the Attorney General to the effect that the

earms delivered to him under the provisions of this section, except when a certification is presented to him from a court, or the United States Attorney or the Attorney General to the effect that the preservation thereof, or of any of them, is necessary or indispensable for the ends of justice, and except when the Commissioner himself directs that they, or any of them, be retained in any police or detective laboratory to the end that they may be examined, compared, identified, or be the object of any other experiment tending to discover or prevent crime.\n(e) Before disposing of a firearm, as provided in this section, the Commissioner shall direct that the class, make, number and caliber of such firearms be carefully recorded and filed.