Firearms amnesty pulls in 297 weapons

Nearly 300guns were turned over to police in Manitoba during a provincewide police firearms amnesty in October.

Those weapons will now be destroyed, ensuring they are never stolen or used in a crime, Attorney General Andrew Swan stated in a press release.

"I'd like to thank everyone who voluntarily came forward to turn in an unwanted or unused firearm. In the wrong hands, even a single weapon has the potential to wreak havoc and cause tragedies," he said.

October was declared as gun amnesty month, enablingpeople to hand in firearms to the police without fear of penalty. Police agencies across the province took part, collecting theweapons.

"We believe the act of surrendering unwanted firearms enhances community safety," Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Brian Cyncora stated in thepress release.

The surrendered items include:

• 273 assorted rifles and shotguns.
• 20 restricted handguns.
• 4 prohibited weapons.
• 74 boxes or bags of assorted ammunition.

Of the total number of items, 192 were surrendered to the Winnipeg Police Service, 85 were handed over to the RCMP and 20 others were turned in elsewhere in the province.

A similar amnesty in 2007 brought in407 weapons, while 315 were surrendered in 2005.