Nearly 40 firearms were turned over in the Tri-Cities during an October gun amnesty.
The province-wide event allowed gun owners to turn in unwanted weapons and ammunition — both documented and undocumented — as long as they hadn't been used in a crime.
Coquitlam RCMP reported 21 files were generated and about 29 guns turned in, including 17 assorted bolt action .22-calibre rifles, six shotguns, five revolvers and one First World War mortar shell from France. Several boxes of shotgun shells and other ammunition were also handed over.
RCMP Const. Jamie Phillipson said many of the people who called to have guns picked up had inherited them from a family member but didn't want to keep them in their home.
Most of the guns will be destroyed but some may be kept for educational or training purposes, he added.
Port Moody Police Sgt. Travis Carroll said eight rifles and one pistol were turned in, along with 736 rounds of ammunition.
"Some were older guns, some were non-functioning guns, we had some air rifles turned in," Carroll said. "We also got a really neat antique double-barrel shotgun but it was damaged and non-functioning, and something the people didn't need to have in the house."
Carroll also said that even though the amnesty is over, anybody who wants to turn over unwanted firearms can still do so by contacting police to have officers come and pick them up; under no circumstances should anyone deliver guns or ammunition in person.
[email protected]
@spayneTC
