The national amnesty aims to improve community safety by reducing the number of unregistered firearms and firearm-related articles in Australian communities.
Victoria Police crime prevention officer Leading Senior Constable Glenn Gibson said the amnesty would give people who had unregistered firearms an opportunity to hand them over to authorities.
Police are encouraging people to take their unwanted firearms to licensed firearms dealers, rather than to police stations.
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Police will then collect the guns from there and they will be destroyed.
Firearms, including active, deactivated, inoperable, imitation or replica and blank-fire guns, can all be surrendered.
People can also hand in parts of firearms, such as barrels, trigger mechanisms, frames, receivers and bolt carriers.
Magazines and magazine extension devices for firearms will also be accepted, as will firearm accessories such as suppressors.
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Leading Sen Constable Gibson said non-prosecution provisions in Victoria safeguarded that licensed firearms dealers could accept and possess any firearm or firearm-related article without fear of prosecution for the purpose of the amnesty.
“People making the most of the amnesty will be those who have firearms from a deceased estate,” Leading Sen Constable Gibson said.
He said it would also give people who were licensed the opportunity to discard any old guns they shouldn’t have.
“Any reduction in the number of firearms, especially those that aren’t needed or required, is a plus for the community,” Leading Sen Constable Gibson said.
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“One of our main objectives is to stop guns getting into the wrong hands.
“If you haven’t got a need for them, now is the time to dispose of them.”
Leading Sen Constable Gibson urged people to also ensure they were storing guns and ammunition properly.
“If you get a car stolen, it will turn up dumped. But if you get a gun stolen, it can turn up in 10 years’ time involved in a serious crime.”
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The closest licensed firearms dealer to surrender firearms at under the amnesty is Benalla Guns and Ammo at 63 Bridge St, Benalla.
Manager Julie Robinson said it was no questions asked; simply bring your unwanted firearm along and they can take it.
“We collect them and they end up getting scrapped at the end of the amnesty,” Ms Robinson said.
“If people could phone beforehand to let us know they are coming on 5762 2241 it would be appreciated.”
For more information about the amnesty, contact a licensed firearms dealer or find a police divisional firearms officer via this link.
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