THE LOCAL RCMP detachment is running a gun amnesty program lasting all of October, along with other RCMP detachments around the province and other police forces.
People who have guns they no longer want can call the detachment here and officers will come to their residence to pick up the unwanted firearms as well as ammunition and prohibited or restricted weapons. That’s with no questions asked.
Keep in mind that the police will still do an investigation to determine if a weapon was used in the commission of a crime and if so, then a person could face charges.
“That would depend on the circumstances around the person who is turning it in,” said Terrace RCMP Const. Angela Rabut, community policing and media relations, referring to the possibility of charges.
“Yes there would be an investigation to determine if the person was involved in the crime or had knowledge of it.”
Better to have the police come to pick up an unwanted weapon than to have it stolen from your place and used for a crime, added Rabut.
Police remind the public not to bring an unwanted firearm or ammunition to the detachment as it’s illegal to carry an unlicensed or illegal weapon in a vehicle, plus it’s not safe.
And when the police arrange to come to a residence to pick up firearms, do not bring the weapons to the door when officers arrive.
The amnesty does not apply to people who, when detained or arrested by police, are found to be in possession of a weapon.
Rabut said she couldn’t predict what firearms or how many firearms the detachment would get. “There’s no rhyme or reason for what we get,” she said.
During the gun amnesty in 2013, Terrace RCMP received 17 firearms: three prohibited handguns, five restricted handguns, six unrestricted long guns, one antique and two air guns. In the 2006 amnesty, Terrace RCMP received eight rifles, two shotguns – one of which was sawed off making it a prohibited firearm – two hand guns, one pellet gun and one black powder rifle.