More than 260,000 guns are in circulation across Australia, amid a national gun amnesty launched to keep firearms out of the community.
The three-month program is a collaboration between the Federal Government and Crime Stoppers and aims to give owners a chance to return any unregistered guns without legal consequence.
Australians are encouraged to surrender their own illegal firearms and report family, friends or associates who may have their own to authorities.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews encouraged people to “do the right thing” and hand over any illegal weapons.
“If you surrender it, you can do so without penalty,” she said in Melbourne on Thursday.
“The alternative is a knock on your door from the police and the potential for serious criminal penalties, including prison.”
But Stella Smith from Crime Stoppers said part of the problem facing authorities was the unknown location of thousands of the weapons.
“I think the issue is we actually don’t know where all of those guns are and that’s why we want the information from people, so we can get them out of the community,” she said.
“You can share what you know with Crime Stoppers without telling us who you are.”
Crime Stoppers Chair Dr Vince Hughes said Australians reluctant to dob others in should consider how they would feel if an illegal gun they knew the whereabouts of was used to kill someone.
“Criminals often go to great lengths to obtain a firearm illegally and then conceal it from authorities, and it’s unlikely they would go to that effort unless they are prepared to use it,” he said.
“Australia is certainly not immune from the devastating impacts that come with having
illegal firearms in the hands of criminals. We have seen the tragic loss of life and severe
injuries that occur when people turn a blind eye and allow illegal firearms to remain in the
community.
“The demand for illegal firearms is dxjmtzywriven by organised crime groups right through to low-
level individual criminals, who want and use firearms to protect their interests and to
commit violent acts.”
Illegal guns can be surrendered at police stations across Australia and licensed firearm dealers throughout the amnesty period.
