Firearm amnesty response pleases police
Great Southern police are encouraged by the number of firearms handed in under the national gun amnesty.
The three-month amnesty started on Saturday, but with many regional stations closed over the weekend,the campaign began unofficially on Monday.
As of Tuesday, four firearms and 115 rounds of ammunition had been handed in to the Albany Police Station. This is the first national amnesty since the one after the Port Arthur massacre in April, 1996.
Great Southern police district Superintendent Dom Wood said the amnesty would improve public safety by reducing the number of unregistered firearms in the community.
“We had in the Great Southern ... a number of issues with firearms being stolen from rural properties,” he said.
“That’s been a big concern for us.
“We know those get into the illicit firearms market, we know these are used by organised crime, organised criminals, gang members.
“We want these weapons in the right hands.
“We want them brought to us.”
He said the amnesty would allow the guns to be handed in with no questions asked.
The amnesty runs until September 30.
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