Police agencies set sights on province-wide gun amnesty program in Sask.

Saskatchewan gun ownerscan hand over their firearms without penalty during the first-ever provincial gun amnesty program.

Police agencies are preparing for the program whichwill launch on March 29 and run until April 27.

"It's all about communitysafety," said Regina Police Service deputy chiefDean Rae.

The amnesty ismeant to allow people to get rid of unwanted firearms theyhaveacquired, whether it be from inheritance or some other means.

'It's an opportunity for us to address a growing concern in our communities.'-Saskatoon Police ServiceSuperintendent MitchYuzdepski

Rae said police don't expect criminals or ill-intentioned peopleto hand over their weapons, but it could prevent them from acquiring more.

"We know that a lot of the firearms that are used in the commission of offences in the province are stolensometimes in break and enters, or other types of crimes," he said.

"Anytime we can take even one firearm off the street and stop one offence, Ithink we're having success."

The provincial program operates like Regina's did, and Saskatoon Police Service will be participating.

"You can turn in that firearm and it'salmost like no questions asked," said SPSSuperintendent Mitch Yuzdepski, noting people can hand over any type of weapon or ammunition.

Yuzdepski said the focus is oncommunity safety. But it also comes at a time when cities in the province are experiencing more gun crime.

"It's an opportunity for us to address a growing concern in our communities," he said. "Regina, ourselvesI know Prince Albert as wellwe've seen an increase in the amount of weapon offences."

• Sask. has the highest provincial crime rate in Canada and the most severe crimes, too

Some members of thepublic criticized the Regina Police Service for destroying the firearms at the end of itsprogram, and suggested they would be better off with a dealer or in an auction.

But Rae said he doesn't believe the gun amnesty program has anything to do with businesses that sell guns.

"I don'tbelieve we're infringing on their ability to do that. [Those businesses]have ways to go purchase firearms from people, and if people are inclined to take them and sell them to those individuals, they can."

Rae said the municipal programwas successful in the eyes of the police service, so hepresented the results toSaskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP).

"There was consensus in the room that we should try to do something on a larger scale."

In Regina, people will be able to call police to notify them they have guns to hand over, so an officer can come pick it up.

"We don't want anybody coming to the police station, walking in the front doors, carrying a firearm," Rae said.

The report filed about the retrieval is contained in a confidential data base, he said, noting police will conduct checks on the firearms to see if they are related to any ongoing investigations.

The guns will be sent for destruction at the end of the collection.

• B.C. gun amnesty nets 1,184 unwanted firearms

The nine agenciesparticipating are theRCMP"F" Division, Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan Conservation Officers, Prince Albert Police Service,CormanPark Police,EstevanPolice Service,WeyburnPolice Service and Moose Jaw Police Service.

Rae said the specifics on how people can turn in their guns across the province will be available to the public near the end of the month.