Military missile turned in during B.C. gun amnesty

Police in Abbotsford, B.C., say a recent gun amnesty program was proceeding routinely until a resident called to say he wanted to turn in a missile.

A B.C. resident turned in a rocket launcher during a gun amnestyin 2006, so Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald saidthe officerswere prepared for anything when they were dispatched to deal with the call.

• Read more about the 2013 gun amnesty
• Read more about the 2006 rocket launcher

But when thetwo officers arrived at the man's home on Friday they were still shocked to find a military grade missile more than six feet long propped up on some lawn furniture, said MacDonald.

"According to the homeowner, one of his relatives who had served in the military took it home as a souvenir from one of his tours of duty."

While the officers proceeded with caution, MacDonald said the homeowner wasn't worried about the missile, saying that had been in his home for more than 10 years.

"He tried to provide some comfort by saying he didn't think it was live because he had dropped it several times and nothing had happened."

The officers called in the Canadian military totake the missile away.

Other than that, MacDonald says the local gun amnesty program was fairly routine with seven handguns, six shotguns and 27 rifles turned in by their owners.