Gun amnesty nets nearly 4,000 weapons

B.C.'s month-long gun amnesty has been declared a major success after 3,213 rifles and handguns plus 725 other "unwanted weapons" were turned over to police departments across the province.

"This is by far the most successful gun amnesty ever," said Solicitor General John Les.

"These weapons, of course, now are not available to be used in the commission of crime,[nor] will be resulting in accidental harm to children and other potential victims."

Some of the more unusual weapons included a rocket launcher, a Sterling submachine gun and an M16 assault rifle.

The public also turned in more than 96,000 rounds of ammunition.

Gun owners were able to surrender unregistered firearms to police in June without any charges, provided they had not been used in a crime.

Acting Vancouver police Chief Bob Rich said the department would like to conduct a followup program.

"This program is not the be all and end all by itself," he said. "But it has raised the profile of the issue of handguns in the hands of criminals very much."

All the weapons turned in will now be subject to investigation to find out if any were involved in crimes, a process expected to take several months.

Police say people who still want to turn weapons in should contact them.