AN amnesty aiming to take illegal guns, ammunition and other weapons out of harm’s way is underway.
Gun owners have three months to surrender unregistered and unwanted firearms, ammunition and weapons, to licensed firearms dealers – not the police – without fear of prosecution.
Police Superintendent Paul Millett said the amnesty was well timed. “It has been more than 20 years since there was a national amnesty and almost five since the last amnesty in Victoria when about 2500 weapons and firearms were handed in.
“We want the community to help keep everyone safe by reducing the availability of unregistered firearms and illegal weapons to those who clearly do not want them for lawful purposes.”
In previous amnesties firearms, including imitation and antique guns and rifles, swords, homemade weapons and hunting knives, were surrendered. Unwanted or unregistered firearms, ammunition or weapons can be surrendered to licensed firearms dealers without fear of prosecution.
Licensed gun owners may surrender guns for destruction, registration or sale, while those not licensed can surrender them for destruction. They will not have to give their details unless they intend to register or sell them.