I didn't go through the enormous slush pile here, but some of it.
I have a few things to say. First, I don't think that bench made should have gotten involved in it. Destruction of guns after buybacks, criminal activity, etc, destruction of a good firearm is a shame unless. Many shooters object strenuously (i sure do) to some of the practices. For a company that makes knives that are shooting accessories to grab that tar baby by the scrotum and brag about it on facebook was stupid with a capitol you.
There were hundreds of alternative shops that could have done that work and gained positive response from the community at large without making anyone have a hissy fit. Every plumber has a metal chop saw or they can be bought for a few hundred bucks. Smash the magazine, cut barrel, slide and receiver and that gun is beyond repair.
A welder could have laid metal in the chamber or barrel and welded the trigger mechanism of the receiver. A cutting torch could cut through the chamber and burn through the trigger group. lots of places can provide a hydraulic press that could crush barrels and slides. Destroying either a handgun or a longarm isn't that hard. five or ten minutes each, tops. Cheap as well.
I can't fault the cops. Why on earth would they ask their armorer to spend several days every few months destroying the collected garbage? he's going to be paid and there are costs involved with the tools.
But they didn't want to do it quietly. so they went to a prominent factory. Benchmade said "yup yup yup, durr, we'll do it for ya!" The police made a public event out of it and benchmade is now having to face the consequences of destroying precious things at the behest of "the man".
It's somewhat like burning books and records. It made the people who did it feel pious and righteous, but there are always people who are deeply offended to see this happen.
Remember pictures like this from prohibition, publicizing the destruction of products
and businesses alike? (wikipedia)
If my stolen shotgun is destroyed after a 'no questions' gun buy, that's just as bad as someone invading my cellar and pouring my bottle of pappy van winkle down my floor drain.