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June gun amnesty nets over 30 firearms

Central Saanich Police Service credited with taking over 30 unwanted firearms out of local homes

The Central Saanich Police Service (CSPS) can be credited with taking over 30 unwanted firearms out of local homes and potentially off the streets after their month long gun amnesty which ended in July.

The Central Saanich Police Service, along with police forces across the province, participated in the Gun Amnesty initiative throughout June — an initiative designed to give people a safe way to dispose of weapons, imitation weapons and related equipment and ammunition which they are not legally entitled to own, or which they no longer want.

“We were able to pick up and subsequently destroy 10 handguns, 17 rifles and nine shotguns along with a small amount of ammo,” said CSPS Corporal Pat Bryant, adding that the service feels good about having the weapons turned in.

“Anytime that we can take unwanted or unused firearms off the street from people who aren’t licensed to have them, it’s always a good thing. We want to thank everyone who participated in the initiative.”

Bryant noted that a lot of the time people inherit old firearms through wills or estates.

“The weapons are passed down through generations and often people don’t know how to get rid of them,” Bryant said, adding that getting the old weapons out of homes can potentially decrease the risk of them ending up on the street.

“All it takes is a simple break and enter for those weapons to fall into the wrong hands,” he said.

Province-wide, more than 1,800 firearms and 31,000 rounds of ammunition were turned in to police during the month-long amnesty.

Anyone who may still have an unwanted weapon, firearm or ammunition can still arrange to have the item picked up by the CSPS by calling 250-652-4441.