{"id":181339,"date":"2017-06-16T15:34:53","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T05:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=181339"},"modified":"2020-09-14T10:56:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T00:56:00","slug":"gun-amnesty-from-july-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/06\/16\/gun-amnesty-from-july-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Gun Amnesty From July 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Part of a cache of weapons and ammunition seized by police last year north of Toowoomba (Photo: QPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 16, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Federal Government’s National Firearms Amnesty will begin on July 1, giving residents an opportunity to hand in unregistered and unwanted firearms.<\/p>\n

This is the first national gun amnesty since 1996, although Queensland conducted a State amnesty in 2013.<\/p>\n

Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that from July 1 to September 30, anyone with unwanted and unregistered firearms or firearm-related items can legally dispose of or register them at approved drop-off points in each State and Territory.<\/p>\n

“This is as much about giving a family a chance to get rid of an old heirloom as it is about getting rid of guns off our streets,” Minister Keenan said.<\/p>\n

“Sadly, as recent events have shown us, just one gun in the wrong hands can be deadly.<\/p>\n

“I encourage Australians to take this opportunity to help remove unregistered firearms from the community.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no cost involved with handing in firearms or related items for destruction.<\/p>\n

Outside of the amnesty period, anyone caught with an unregistered firearm could face a fine of up to $280,000, up to 14 years in jail, and a criminal record.<\/p>\n

Information about individual State and Territory requirements, including how and where to surrender firearms, can be found on the National Firearms Amnesty website<\/a><\/strong> or by calling 1800-909-826.<\/p>\n