Province Wide Firearm Amnesty Numbers In
Solicitor General Mike Morris at news conference wrapping up firearms amnesty – image courtesy RCMP E Division
Prince George, B.C. – Over the month of October, British Columbians had the opportunity to surrender unwanted firearms to police without fear of repercussion, as long as the firearms had not been used in the commission of crime.
Throughout the Province, the month long program saw a total of 1184 firearms and replicas as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition surrendered. That’s down from the previous amnesty in BC which saw 1800 firearms turned over to police. Although the numbers are down, Solicitor General Mike Morris says the 2016 event was a success “By all means, it was a success. That’s 1184 that are no longer in circulation and available to people when they break into homes.”
The Solicitor General says all of the firearms will be checked to ensure they have not been stolen and that there are no alerts issued for that particular firearm “Other than that there’s not much done, unless it’s a unique calibre or there is something unique about it that raises the attention then it will go for further forensic examination”. All of the firearms surrendered will be destroyed
As previously reported on 250News, the surrendered firearms in Prince George were made up of:
- 8 handguns,
- 27 rifles and
- 8 shotguns.
All of these were standard or common firearms.
The most unusual item surrendered during this amnesty was a World War I mortar. There was also an Uzi turned in.
The Province wide amnesty was the second in three years, but the Solicitor General says at this point, there is no plan to make this a regular event “We will certainly keep all that in mind we’re encouraging the public anyways that if they have any firearms that have come into their possession to contact police and turn them over. The police can make a determination at the time ( whether charges are warranted) but I don’t think anyone who legitimately goes before the police and says look, ‘ I’ve got this gun that was left in the house by my uncle and I don’t want it anymore’ I am sure the police wouldn’t consider charges under circumstances like that,. But we still have to be wary because a lot of times criminals will use these kind of venues (amnesty) to get out of prosecution.”
Comments
“That’s 1184 that are no longer in circulation and available to people when they break into homes.” I wonder who has stolen more guns in the last 5 years, criminals or the RCMP in the High River gun grab which saw over 600 guns “confiscated” (stolen) from homes?
You have to wonder about statements like this. Out of all these firearms turned in, how many were actually in danger of being stolen? I think very few…if any were in any real danger of being stolen to be used in the commission of future crimes.
The RCMP is in the middle of an active campaign to discredit and stigmatize legal gun owners. They want one thing and that is to remove ALL guns from anyone that isn’t the police or military. They begin by inducing fear into the general public by saying any gun is bad and it’s likely to be used in criminal activity sometime down the road.
People need to open their eyes. Guns aren’t bad. Criminals are bad. If the courts would do their jobs and keep scumbags off the street and in a cage where they belong then we’d all be better off.
For sure, but it is way easier to put pressure on law abiding citizens who follow the (many) rules.
Law abiding citizens should revolt against criminals but of course that is the job of the police.
Now if the courts would back up the police a little more….
metalman.
Maybe use some common sense and inspect the guns first and if not stolen or used in a crime put them up for auction and give the money to charity. One question- If serial # is checked and found to be stolen will the police be returning it to the owner.
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