Province-wide gun amnesty will run through October

Police from across B.C. are offering a door-to-door collection service during a month long gun amnesty that will run through October.

Anyone with a gun, replica firearm or ammunition will be able to hand it over to police without fear of prosecution as long as the weapon has not been used in a criminal offence.

"The fact is, in Canada, 60 percent of weapons used in a crime are sourced domestically," said B.C. RCMP Commanding Officer Craig Callens.

"Last year alone, 954 firearms were stolen in break and enters in British Columbia. We know that gun amnesties work. We've had a strong response in the past."

Callens says people are not allowed to drop off weapons at their local police detachments.

Instead, they can call ahead and arrange a time for an officer to pick up the guns.

Past amnesties

The last time the province had a gun amnesty in 2013, more than 1,800 firearms were collected and destroyed.

Police also took in 155 other weapons and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition.

B.C. Solicitor General Mike Morris said the last two amnesties have been successful.

"In our 2006 and 2013 amnesties, we yielded more than 5,000 firearms including 900 handguns and two machines, plus about 128-thousand rounds of ammunition," Morris said.

"People turned in everything from a rocket launcher to vintage rifles and bayonets, and they did so knowing that their weapons would be destroyed."

Police say they have had several months to prepare for the amnesty, so they have adjusted their staffing levels to accommodate pick-up service.