Canberrans have handed in 500 firearms in the first phase of the National Firearms Amnesty that began last year. But there are still more dangerous weapons out there, the police say.
The amnesty began in July, allowing the public to hand in unregistered or illegal firearms, parts, or ammunition to the police without penalty for registration, sale, or destruction.
In phase two, the public are urged to let police or Crime Stoppers ACT (1800 333 000 or online) know when they believe someone has an illegal or unregistered firearm. Callers can remain anonymous.
“We know there are people in our community who have this information,” said Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services. “I urge them to come forward and provide it.”
“We want to remove any unwanted, unregistered, or illicit firearms, which can be found anywhere in the community,” said Oliver Forrester, Crime Stoppers ACT’s chair.
Firearms can be used for a raft of crimes from murder to armed robbery, said Neil Gaughan, Chief Police Officer for the ACT – and have been used in those type of crimes in the ACT over the last 12 months.
“Unless we remove firearms from the streets, we’re going to continue to see that,” he said.
Mr Forrester urged Canberrans to think how they would feel if they stayed silent about an illegal gun which later harmed or killed someone.
“If people don’t share the information … there is a real potential that firearms can fall into the wrong hands,” he said – from organised crime groups to individual criminals.
“Criminals often go to great lengths to obtain a firearm illegally and then conceal it from authorities, so it’s unlikely they would go to that effort unless they are prepared to use it.”
Earlier this month, police seized a loaded rifle and more than 100 rounds of ammunition from a protester’s car, as a result of information from a member of the public.
Flamethrowers, rocket-launchers, and World War II revolvers are among the firearms surrendered since July, as well as prohibited gel blasters and BB guns that resemble real weapons. The guns will be destroyed, shredded mostly, said Det.-Sgt. Toby Seppings, from the ACT Firearms Registry.
“They won’t ever have a chance of making it back onto the street.”
The amnesty will continue for another couple of months. Mr Gentleman wants to make the amnesty permanent in the ACT. If people find a gun in a deceased estate or when cleaning house, for instance, it would not be a penalty to drop the weapon into the police.
“The beauty of an amnesty is that it gives you the opportunity to surrender firearms to a police station in a safe way without any questions asked,” Mr Gaughan said. “We encourage Canberrans to continue to do that.
“One firearm off the streets makes a significant difference, but when you remove 500, that’s a substantial change… Utopia would be no firearms on the streets. That’s not going to be achieved, but every firearm handed in makes a significant difference.”
The ACT’s National Firearm Amnesty surrender location is the ACT Policing Firearms Registry at the Exhibition Management Centre, 86 Vicars Street, Mitchell.
Being caught with an unregistered or illegal firearm outside amnesty could lead to a fine, imprisonment, or criminal record.
ACT and NSW police and Crime Stoppers ACT will hold an information stand about the National Firearms Amnesty in Queanbeyan next month.
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