More than 350 firearms were handed into ACT Police during the first month of the National Firearms Amnesty.
Detective Sergeant and Registrar for ACT Firearms, Rod Swain said he was pleased with the first month’s results (1 July – 1 August) which saw 355 firearms surrendered to police, including 10 handguns and one flame-thrower, along with approximately 70 kilograms of ammunition.
“In the 2017 firearms amnesty more than 700 firearms were surrendered,” Detective Sergeant Swain said.
“To have half that number surrendered in one month is a great boost to the safety of our city,” he said.
“We’ve had a large number of rifles and shotguns surrendered, as well as some hand guns.”
Detective Sergeant Swain said police had also received some World War One-era rifles and a one-hundred-year-old former USA military pistol.
He said firearms of historical significance would be offered to museums for their collections and the remainder would be destroyed or properly registered.
“We maintain our call for anyone who has unregistered or unwanted firearms, ammunition and other weapons to bring them to our facility in Mitchell,” he said.
Detective Sergeant Swain urged anyone with information about illegal firearms to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Information on the National Firearms Amnesty, including the process to surrender a firearm, can be accessed on Crime Stoppers’ website at this PS News link.
