The Halifax Regional Municipality’s recently concluded Fares for Firearms Gun Amnesty Campaign has resulted in 152 guns being turned into police for proper, safe disposal.
The following is a break-down of the firearms turned into Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP during the campaign held from Sept. 12 to 23, 2016:
Long guns/rifles 123
Hand guns 18
Pellet guns 11
TOTAL 152 guns
“We’re pleased with the response from residents who turned in a substantial number of unwanted firearms over the course of the campaign. Every gun disposed of through this program improves the overall safety of our residents and communities,” said Ted Upshaw, Public Safety Advisor for the Halifax Regional Municipality. “I would like to thank those residents who took the opportunity to participate in our program and to Halifax Transit for partnering with us through the provision of the ticket incentive.”
The Fares for Firearms campaign offered 50 Halifax Transit tickets in exchange for each gun turned into police on a first-come, first-served basis during the two-week campaign.
Given the number of firearms turned in, Halifax Transit has increased their original offer of up to $5,000 in transit tickets, which equated to incentives only for the first 50 firearms. In order to provide incentives for each firearm turned in by those residents who opted for the incentive, Halifax Transit will donate a total of 128 incentives (6400 tickets) at a value of $12,800.
Those participants opting to take the incentive will receive them in the mail over the coming weeks.
The overall campaign objective was to raise awareness that residents can turn guns in to police for disposal at any time of year by calling 902-490-5020. In 2015, 194 guns were turned into police for destruction in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
For more information on the Fares for Firearms Gun Amnesty Campaign, visit www.halifax.ca/gunamnesty.
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Source: Media Release
