The OPP, in collaboration with participating municipal police services, is holding a gun amnesty during the month of April.
The gun amnesty is for any Ontario resident who wishes to voluntarily surrender unwanted or illegally-owned firearms, weapons, accessories or ammunition.
Police state the amnesty is a way to provide citizens with a safe way to surrender weapons and enhance public safety.
During the amnesty, police will not recommend weapons-related Criminal Code charges that might otherwise apply to people who are turning in these items.
Police note no amnesty is offered for people who turn in weapons that have been used in the commission of a crime.
No anonymous submissions will be accepted.
Interested gun owners are strongly urged to call the OPP non-emergency number to arrange for officers to attend and safely retrieve the weapons.
Gun owners can also use the OPP website button, www.opp.ca/gunamnest, the Citizen Self Reporting tool to notify police.
Under no circumstances should anyone deliver guns or ammunition directly to police facilities.
“Ontario has seen an increase in break-and-enter incidents where firearms are stolen or targeted by criminals,” states OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes.
“The OPP and our participating police partners are giving people a safe way to dispose of weapons, imitation weapons and related equipment, accessories and ammunition to reduce the number of guns in their communities.”
