Another seminal moment in the country’s fight against the spiraling crime will take shape on Saturday, the start of the gun amnesty, preparatory to the implementation of the new Firearms Act.
The gun amnesty will allow persons who may be in possession of an illegal or unregistered firearm or ammunition, the opportunity to surrender the weapon to the state without the fear of prosecution.
Senator Matthew Samuda, continued the conversation around the amnesty, in Friday’s sitting of the Senate.
This means after the expiration of the amnesty anyone found with an illegal firearm will face the full brunt of the law. He notes this amnesty is a technique used in many countries to minimize crime.
Senator Samuda also highlights illegal firearms are the most common in major crimes.
He notes since 2018, security forces have recovered at least three thousand two hundred illegal firearms in excess of fifty-three thousand rounds of ammunition.
To date, the nation has seen an eleven percent increase in firearm seizures.
Meanwhile, Opposition Senator Peter Bunting says while he is in support of the amnesty, there needs to be more public education.
The gun amnesty will run from Saturday, November 5 until midnight on Saturday, November 19.
More details here:
Reporter: Javine Mclean
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