Month-long gun amnesty set for October
Gun owners are encouraged to turn over any unwanted firearms, weapons and ammunition to the RCMP when a month-long amnesty begins Oct. 1.
However, the RCMP are warning residents not to just walk into the detachment carrying a firearm.
Instead, call 250-562-3300 to arrange to have them picked up by police.
The amnesty applies to any documented or undocumented firearms and other weapons – in- cluding restricted and prohibited ones – that have not been used for a criminal purpose, as well as to any amount of ammunition.
The goal is to ensure the safe disposal of unwanted weapons that could otherwise land in the hands of criminals, children or others, potentially leading to tragic consequences.
Firearms and ammunition surrendered during the amnesty will be destroyed.
“We know that firearms, weapons and ammunition are often stolen during break-ins,” Public Safety and Solicitor General Minister Mike Morris said this week.
“For those wondering how to safely dispose of their unwanted firearms like that rifle they inherited that is now collecting dust in the basement, this month-long amnesty is the perfect opportunity to keep a potentially deadly weapon or firearm from landing in the wrong hands.”
B.C.’s previous gun amnesty in 2013 resulted in 1,801 firearms, 155 other weapons and approximately 30,700 rounds of ammunition being destroyed.