Saskatchewan Municipal Police Services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Conservation Officers are working proactively to address the issue of gun violence in this province through an upcoming Gun Amnesty Program. This is an initiative of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, or SACP, patterned after a successful province-wide Gun Amnesty held at this time last year. (In the 2018 Gun Amnesty, a total of 369 unwanted firearms were safely gathered, along with thousands of rounds of unwanted ammunition.)
The participating agencies are: the municipal police services of Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Estevan, Weyburn, Corman Park, File Hills, Dalmeny, Wilton, and Luseland. The program also includes Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Conservation Officers of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.
The SACP Gun Amnesty recognizes that our province has a strong history and tradition of responsible firearms use in hunting, agriculture, and recreational marksmanship. Firearms are a necessary tool in these vocations and pursuits. The SACP recognizes that legal, safe and responsible firearm ownership is the practice of most gun-owners in this province. The SACP Gun Amnesty will not have an adverse effect on responsible firearms owners. Instead, the SACP Gun Amnesty is designed to lower the risk of violent offences involving firearms by safely collecting and disposing of unwanted firearms that may, otherwise, fall into the hands of criminals through break & enters or accidental loss. Reducing the numbers of unwanted firearms in our cities, towns and rural communities will have a positive impact on public safety. An example of an unwanted firearm would be: a firearm inherited as part of an estate, but no longer wanted by the surviving relative. The Gun Amnesty also extends to replica or imitation firearms, and any unwanted ammunition or parts of firearms.
From March 25th to April 19th, 2019, residents of Saskatchewan are encouraged to contact their nearest detachment of the RCMP, municipal police service or conservation office to arrange to surrender their unwanted firearms, replica firearms, and ammunition. NOTE: We do NOT want members of the public transporting firearms to their nearest detachment, police service or conservation office. Improper transportation of firearms presents a safety risk and can result in potential criminal charges. Participants must call ahead to arrange pick-up. By pre-arrangement, police officers or conservation officers will go to the homes of residents who wish to surrender unwanted firearms and safely gather these firearms. During the period of the SACP Gun Amnesty, police will not pursue any charges in relation to the unauthorized possession of firearms that are surrendered as part of this initiative. However, all surrendered firearms will be checked by police to determine if they are involved in any ongoing investigations. Firearms will then be destroyed.
Any Saskatchewan resident who wants to get rid of unwanted firearms is encouraged to contact his/her local municipal police service, RCMP detachment or conservation office. Watch for more information distributed through posters in your community as well as notices on police websites and police social media accounts in Saskatchewan.
Remember: please do not transport unwanted firearms nor enter a police service, detachment or conservation office, carrying a firearm. Make arrangements for a safe pick-up by a police officer or conservation officer. Local details will be available in each participating community.
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