Manitoba offers firearms amnesty

The Manitoba government and police across the province are trying to get more unwanted and unused firearms out of homes.

To that end, October has been declared as gun amnesty month, during which people can hand in firearms to the police without fear of penalty.

People can call non-emergency police numbers and an officer will pickup the firearms. The exception will be if the firearm was stolen or used to commit a crime.

In announcing the amnesty on Friday, Attorney General Andrew Swan said the aim is to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.

More than 400 firearms were turned over to police during a provincewide firearms amnesty in 2007, adding to 315 netted in a similar amnesty in 2005, he said.

Items surrendered in 2007 included 352 rifles and shotguns, 49 handguns, six prohibited handguns, 28 pellet rifles or pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

If people have weapons at home or the cottage that not properly secured, then perhaps it's time to turn them in, said Winnipeg police Chief Keith McCaskill.

"If it's sitting there and it's not trigger-guarded and it's not looked after in a secure way, you probably don't need it. Get rid of the thing and we'll be down there to pick it up," he said.

Swan also announced funding for two additional members to the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST), ajoint unit that targets gun smuggling and other firearms-related offences.