Link to news release. (bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca)

British Columbians turned in 1184 firearms during the 2016 B.C. Gun Amnesty throughout the month of October.

In addition to 1184 firearms and replicas, British Columbians voluntarily relinquished a variety of related items, including holsters, non-firearms weapons, limited explosives, and several thousand rounds of miscellaneous ammunition.

"I would like to commend law enforcement throughout British Columbia for their work in making this firearms amnesty possible," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Morris. "Removing guns from our streets is a key commitment in our Guns and Gangs Strategy and this amnesty has helped make sure that these unwanted firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands."  

(flickr.com)

"The B.C. Gun Amnesty demonstrated how all police agencies worked collaboratively to bring in these results," says Chief Constable Les Sylven, BC Association of Chiefs of Police. "Working together, we were successful in collecting unwanted firearms and increasing public safety."

"Once again, B.C. citizens took advantage of the opportunity to ask police to collect their unwanted firearms," says Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, Commanding Officer of B.C. R.C.M.P. "Individuals from across the province, from Saanich to Smithers to Summerland to Surrey, embraced this program." 

By far, the majority of firearms collected were rifles, shotguns and handguns. Of the total 1184 firearms collected, there were 543 rifles, 223 shotguns and 222 handguns. Throughout the month, there were 690 requests for police to collect firearms, weapons or ammunition from households in B.C.

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The B.C. Gun Amnesty is endorsed by the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and supported by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The Amnesty gave people a safe way to dispose of any unwanted firearm regardless of classification, ammunition and weapons that had not been used in a criminal offence, without facing weapons-related Criminal Code charges.

For more information, please visit the BC Gun Amnesty website: www.bc-gunamnesty.ca.