Region lays down 967 firearms
MORE than 900 firearms were surrendered in the southern policing region as part of the nation-wide amnesty clearing illegal, unregistered and unwanted weapons.
The 967 firearms was the second highest in the state behind the central police region, and fraction of the 16,126 collected for either registration, sake-keeping or destruction.
The southern policing region stretches from Bribie Island in the far east to the NSW and South Australian borders.
“This amnesty will help keep our community safe by ensuring those firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands,” Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said.
“Any firearm in the wrong hands can have tragic consequences.”
Statewide, category A firearms including shotguns and rim-fire rifles were the most common weapons handed in with 6528 processed by police.
That was followed by 2546 Category B weapons, then 396 Category H weapons.
Category R weapons, which include machine guns, firearms capable of firing 50 calibre BMG cartridge ammunition, and grenade and rocket launchers, made up just 28 of the total number handed to police statewide.
“The quantity of firearms surrendered has been very positive,” Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
“It has shown Queenslanders want our state to be a safe place.
“Reducing unregistered firearms improves public safety.”