Some of the  firearms and weapons turned over to police during the  month long Firearms Amnesty program (Photos courtesy RCMP)

Richmond, B.C.- The  Firearm Amnesty program that was in effect for the month of June in B.C., resulted in  1,429 firearms and 97 other unwanted weapons to RCMP Detachments during this year’s province-wide gun amnesty. A further 372 firearms and 58 other weapons were turned over to  other police authorities in the province.

"The public’s response and participation in the amnesty was overwhelmingly successful," said Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP.

"Based on the total number of weapons turned in to RCMP, it really showcases how many people have embraced this program. We were able to reach small rural communities such as Tumbler Ridge in northern BC with 6 firearms turned in and the largest community the RCMP polices, namely Surrey, who had 237 guns turned in."

Many people who relinquished their firearms and weapons to police did so as they no longer wanted the items nor did they want the burden of having them in their possession.

The majority of the 1,429 firearms handed over to the RCMP were rifles, shotguns and handguns. Of that total, there were 827 Rifles, 302 Handguns, 299 Shotguns, 1 Machine Gun (photo on right) and 97 other weapons including several replica handguns and rifles, pellet guns, air pistols and rifles, starter pistols and various gun parts.

In addition to guns, over 30,000 rounds of ammunition were also turned in to the RCMP and other Policing agencies.  The most surprising  item was a military missile, more than 6 feet long, which was turned in by  a relative of an individual who had reportedly kept it as a souvenir of a tour of duty overseas.  

While the provincial total  was  revealed today at a news conference in Richmond, the details on the number of  items turned in to  the Prince George  detachment was not  immediately available.

1,801 guns, 30,700 rounds secured in June amnesty

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