BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Republican-led North Dakota Legislature has passed a bill banning gun buyback programs subsidized by taxpayers.

The Senate approved the House bill on Friday. It now goes to Gov. Doug Burgum for his signature.

Backers of the bill outlawing gun buybacks say they do nothing to increase public safety and only threaten gun rights.

Republican Rep. Luke Simons, the primary sponsor of the bill, says the firearm buyback programs send a message to children that the “government is buying evil guns to get them off the street.”

Kansas and Indiana passed similar legislation in 2014 that bans local governments from using taxpayer money for gun buyback programs to remove weapons from circulation.