Penticton RCMP rounded up 32 firearms as part of this year’s province-wide gun amnesty.
“We didn’t receive anything of significance, no rocket launchers or anything like that. I didn’t even see any handguns” said Sgt. Rick Dellebuur.
The B.C. gun amnesty, endorsed by the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and supported by the Ministry of Justice ran from June 1 to 30.
The amnesty gave people who possessed documented or undocumented weapons that have not been
used in a criminal offence the opportunity to turn in guns and ammunition to their local RCMP without being charged.
“Most people came in with firearms that nobody in the family wanted anymore and there was no use for it,” said Dellebuur.
“We had maybe one newer shotgun and everything else looked older.”
Across the province RCMP had 1,429 firearms and 97 other unwanted weapons handed over to detachments this year.
Of that total there were 827 rifles, 302 handguns, 299 shotguns, one machine gun and several replica handguns, rifles, pellet guns, air pistols and rifles, starter pistols and various gun parts.
In addition to guns, over 16,000 rounds of ammunition were also turned in.
The last gun amnesty, held in 2006, saw 96,500 rounds and 3,200 guns turned over to Mounties, including a rocket launcher and a machine gun.
“This is a safe way for people to safely dispose of firearms,” said Dellebuur.
“There is a certain amount of risk when you have firearms in your residence that somebody might come in and steal
them, no matter how well you secure things.
“Some people have had these things for years and years and maybe they aren’t stored properly.”
Kelowna RCMP picked up 41 long guns, two air guns and 14 hand guns. Included in that cache was a Second World War Sten sub machine gun that was not in working condition. As well, they took in weapons including a baseball bat studded with nails.