Kitchener-Waterloo

Gun amnesty campaign by Waterloo Regional Police launches for November

Residents in Waterloo Region with unwanted firearms and weapons can get rid of unwanted or unlicensed firearms this month with the return of the Firearms and Prohibited Weapons Amnesty program.

Residents can get rid of unwanted firearms without fear of prosecution for illegal possession

Just a fraction of the weapons recovered in a month-long RCMP gun amnesty program across B.C. (Belle Puri/CBC)

Residents in Waterloo Region have a chance to get rid of unwanted or unlicensed firearms this November with the return of the month-long Firearms and Prohibited Weapons Amnesty program run by Waterloo Regional Police.

People have the opportunity to get rid of firearms without fear of prosecution for illegal possession.

 "Many weapons we recover that are related to a crime are those that have been stolen from residences," said Superintendent Patrick Dietrich in a release.

"They end up in the hands of people who use them to commit a criminal activity. Turning in these unwanted weapons will reduce this risk and, in turn, make our streets safer."

The program has had success since police first launched it in 2014, when officers collected over 346 weapons and 12,000 rounds of ammunition.

Police ask for residents to call 519-570-9777 to make arrangements for an officer to pick them up, rather than to deliver the unwanted firearms to police themselves.