Deadly weapons of all kinds were on show in Richmond on Friday as Mounties displayed the results of a month-long gun amnesty.
Some 1,801 firearms, 155 other weapons and approximately 30,700 rounds of ammunition were turned in for destruction.
The goal of the program, which ran through June, was to encourage British Columbians to safely dispose of unwanted weapons that might otherwise fall into the hands of criminals, children or others,
potentially leading to tragic consequences.
People were encouraged to surrender weapons ranging from high-powered firearms and crossbows to pellet and replica guns as well as ammunition, by calling their local police to attend, secure and remove the items.
Regardless of whether a weapon's history is distinguished, shady or simply unknown, gun amnesty means its future is secure, said attorney general and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton.
Ultimately, all of these weapons are destroyed. They're not at risk of being found in a drawer by a child, or of ending up on the street after a break-in.
The latest results show the sustained value of periodic gun amnesty programs.
Back-to-back programs in 1997 and 1998 yielded an average of 2,500 firearms and 100,000 rounds of ammunition. In 2006, the number of firearms rose to more than 3,200, plus another 725 unwanted weapons, while the number of rounds was relatively stable at 96,500.
As with past campaigns, some interesting items were turned in, including:
* 1,026 rifles, 394 handguns and 380 shotguns.
* A machine gun received by Kelowna RCMP.
* Historical firearms, including a Lee-Enfield .303 rifle from World War II.
* Bayonets from the 1800s, turned in to Ridge Meadows RCMP.
* A well-publicized military missile more than six feet long, turned in by the relative of an individual who reportedly kept it as a souvenir of a tour of duty overseas.
Craig Callens, commanding officer of the RCMP in
B.C., said the misuse of firearms can take many forms.
Whether it involves a child's curiosity, a domestic incident, a theft or some other turn of events, the impact is too often instantaneous and tragic, said Callens.
By calling police and arranging for safe disposal of their unwanted weapons and ammunition, thousands of British Columbians have helped to prevent potentially dozens of dangerous incidents."
