1,924 Firearms Handed In During National Firearms Amnesty

Tasmanians have handed in almost 2,000 unregistered and unwanted firearms during the National Firearms Amnesty.

Surrendered firearms consisted of 745 shotguns, 1071 rifles and 108 handguns, including:

• 2 x SKS military-style semi-automatic rifles handed in, one in the north and one in the south.
• .222 calibre rifle handed in anonymously to a North-West firearms dealer and later determined to have been stolen from a man in the North-East in 1995.
• 150-year-old antique Belgian Lefaucheux 9mm pinfire revolver in good condition, along with a tin of original rounds handed in by a woman in Southern Tasmania. The woman said she believed the revolver was used as protection on mail train services. Discussions are underway to donate it to TMAG.
• Norinco NZ75 9mm pistol handed in in the south and listed as being stolen since 1995.

“During the three-month National Firearms Amnesty period of 1 July 2017 to 30 September 2017, a colossal amount of illegal and/or unwanted firearms were surrendered and can no longer end up in the hands of criminals,” said Inspector Kathy Bennett from Tasmania Police Firearms Services.

“Since 1997 Tasmania has had a permanent firearms amnesty, meaning that anyone can hand in an unregistered firearm without penalty.  The number of firearms surrendered during the high-profile national three month campaign shows just how important these amnesties are in getting illegal firearms out of circulation.”

“On behalf of Tasmania Police I would like to thank every person who handed in a firearm during the amnesty, they have contributed to making our community a safer place.”