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Amnesty aims to reduce firearms

Eight guns, 500 rounds turned in to local RCMP detachment

So far, eight firearms and about 500 rounds of ammunition have been turned into the Ridge Meadows RCMP during this June’s gun amnesty.

The local detachment is joining all police departments across B.C. in declaring a province-wide firearms amnesty this month. The goal is to provide citizens the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted firearms that may be in their possession, generally with a “no questions asked” approach by law enforcement.

“A gun amnesty provides an opportunity to reduce the number of firearms in our communities, which enhances public and police officer safety,” said Sgt. Dale Somerville in a press release.

“Unwanted, or improperly secured, weapons can be potential hazards which can result in devastating consequences, such as a young child playing with them. There is also a chance that a common thief can steal a firearm in a break and enter, which then could lead to the gun being used in the commission of another crime on a future date.

“If you have any unwanted weapons, firearms, or ammunition, now is the perfect opportunity to help make both your home and community safer during the B.C. Gun Amnesty. This includes anyone who is, or is not, in legal possession.”

Between June 1-30, any resident of Pitt Meadows or Maple Ridge can call police at 604-463-6251 and an officer will come to their home at an agreed-upon time to pick up the firearm, weapon, or ammunition for destruction.

As long as the gun or weapon has no links to a serious crime, then no questions will be asked.

The last gun amnesty was in 2006, and police recovered more than 3,200 guns, over 96,000 rounds of ammunition, and 725 other unwanted weapons across the province.



Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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