Tri-City residents who are looking to unload some unwanted guns or ammunition can do so - safely - at the Coquitlam RCMP detachment during this month's gun amnesty.
Cpl. Jamie Chung said people can surrender unwanted or even illegally owned firearms, weapons and ammunition and the police will not recommend weapons-related Criminal Code charges that might otherwise apply.
"However, there is no amnesty for people who turn in weapons that have been used in the commission of a crime," he added.
The amnesty is intended to reduce the number of firearms in the community and enhance public safety by preventing potential gun-related accidents or thefts during residential break-and-enters.
People who own or have inherited a gun that may have historical significance, and who don't want to turn it in, can visit the RCMP's national website (www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf) for information on how to properly license and store it.
Anyone planning to surrender their weapons or ammunition should follow these tips:
Call 604-945-1550 for a police officer to attend your residence for a pick-up. Do not bring firearms or ammunition to the Coquitlam RCMP detachment or to any Community Police Station.
When the officer comes to the door to pick up your item(s), do not bring them to the door. Show the officer where the firearms and/or ammunition are kept.
Any type of unregistered gun can be turned in during the amnesty, as well as imitation and pellet weapons or other dangerous weapons, such as registered guns, pepper spray and knives.
The last gun amnesty in 2006 brought in more than 3,200 guns - 505 handguns and 725 other unwanted weapons - as well as 96,500 rounds of ammunition, a rocket launcher and a machine gun.
Most of the firearms will be destroyed though a small number may be kept for training purposes.
