Prosecutor: Destroy Oklahoma City bombing conspirator’s guns

DENVER (AP) – Federal prosecutors want more than a dozen guns belonging to Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols destroyed rather than turned over to his ex-wife.

Prosecutors said in Monday court filings they’re concerned that the rifles, handguns and shotguns would be sold and used in copycat crimes, given their owner’s notoriety. They say the government should destroy Nichols’ guns and apply their value to his restitution.

Nichols argued in July that the 13 weapons should be transferred to his ex-wife because he owes child support. The guns were seized from Nichols’ Kansas home but had no part in the 1995 bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that killed 168 people.

Nichols was convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and of involuntary manslaughter of eight federal agents.