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Gun Amnesty Common Questions
- What is the purpose of the gun amnesty?
- Do you guarantee I won’t be charged for having this weapon?
- When will the amnesty be held?
- How can the Alberta government legally create an amnesty?
- What sections of the Criminal Code are affected by the amnesty?
- How will the gun amnesty work?
- Are all police forces across the province participating in this amnesty?
- What’s the difference between the Alberta gun amnesty and the federal government’s amnesty for the long-gun registry?
- What is the purpose of the Alberta gun amnesty?
- Have there been previous amnesties in Alberta?
- How many weapons do you hope to collect during the amnesty?
- What types of firearms and weapons are you hoping to see turned in?
- What happens to guns that will be turned in?
- Are you targeting the recreational hunters, farmers, or homeowners? Isn’t there a better way for police to go after the criminals who have the weapons?
- Why are you destroying the weapons instead of selling them? Wouldn’t selling them create an incentive for more guns to be turned in?
- Do you expect to see a dramatic drop in the crime rate once the amnesty is over?
- How will the guns be tested to determine if they’ve been used in a crime?
- How will the guns be disposed of?
- How many guns have you collected so far?
- What is the purpose of the gun amnesty?
The Alberta gun amnesty is a voluntary program that allows Albertans who have illegal or unwanted firearms, other weapons or ammunition an opportunity to surrender them to police for safe disposal.
- Do you guarantee I won’t be charged for having this weapon?
You will not be charged for turning in a restricted, prohibited, unregistered or unlicensed weapon, if it was not stolen and has not been used in a crime.
Weapons will be tested to ensure they have not been stolen or used to commit a crime and then destroyed. If it’s found the weapon was stolen or used in a crime, there will be an investigation that may result in charges.
- When will the amnesty be held?
The amnesty will occur between October 1 – 31, 2006 and during that time residents who possess illegal or unwanted weapons can turn them into their local police force.
- How can the Alberta government legally create an amnesty?
The Minister of Justice has directed that anyone can voluntarily surrender a firearm or weapon to the police during the amnesty period as long as that firearm or weapon has not been used in a criminal act.
- What sections of the Criminal Code are affected by the amnesty?
Section 91 – Unauthorized possession of a firearm. This section requires individuals to possess both a firearms license and the appropriate registration certificates for firearms they possess.
Section 92 – Possession of a firearm knowing it to be unauthorized.
Section 93 – Possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place. Some classes of firearms are required at and stored at a specific address.
Section 95 – Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm with ammunition. Prohibited firearms include fully-automatic firearms (machine guns), short-barreled handguns (less than 4 inches) and sawed-off shotguns or rifles. Restricted firearms include handguns and semi-automatic firearms that aren’t otherwise prohibited, and firearms with a folding stock. The Canadian Firearms Centre has more information on their website at www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca
- How will the gun amnesty work?
Anyone wanting to dispose of their weapons should contact their local police station’s non-emergency number to make appropriate arrangements to turn them over. Officers will go to their residence to pick up the weapons and ammunition. Residents should not take these items to the police station unless police have specifically directed them to do so.
- Are all police forces across the province participating in this amnesty?
Yes. The amnesty is supported by all municipal police forces and the RCMP in the province.
- What’s the difference between the Alberta gun amnesty and the federal government’s amnesty for the long-gun registry?
The Alberta amnesty, similar to those held in other provinces, applies to individuals in possession of any type of firearm that is not registered or licensed, including handguns and other restricted weapons, by allowing them to turn over the weapon without fear of facing charges for these offences.
The federal amnesty doesn’t apply to individuals who never obtained a firearms license. It applies to individuals who have non-registered rifles or shotguns, but there are no arrangements to collect these weapons from those who no longer want them.
The federal amnesty is in effect until May 17, 2007. Individuals will not be prosecuted for possessing a non-restricted rifle or shotgun without a valid license or registration certificate if:
- They were licensed to possess that class of firearm in the past but their license has expired since January 1, 2004; or
- They currently hold, or have held a firearms license but have not yet registered the firearm.
- What is the purpose of the Alberta gun amnesty?
The police want to provide the public with a safe way to dispose of weapons, imitation weapons and ammunition which they are not legally entitled to own, or which they no longer want. The amnesty helps reduce the number of firearms in our communities, enhancing public and police officer safety.
- Have there been previous amnesties in Alberta?
No.
- How many weapons do you hope to collect during the amnesty?
There is no specific target. Every weapon turned in is one more that can’t be used in a gun crime.
- What types of firearms and weapons are you hoping to see turned in?
- Registered firearms that are no longer wanted by the owner, including those inherited from a family member.
- Prohibited and restricted firearms and weapons, prohibited devices and prohibited ammunition as these are defined in the Criminal Code of Canada.
- Firearms that have never been registered under current firearms law, including rifles and shotguns.
- Imitation firearms that are not required to be registered, but still pose a danger because they are difficult to distinguish from a real gun.
- Any other weapons that the public wants to turn in, such as pellet guns, grenades, explosives, ammunition, etc.
- What happens to guns that will be turned in?
Police will test all firearms to determine if they have been stolen or used in a crime. If a weapon was used to commit a crime, there will be an investigation that may result in charges. Most weapons turned over will be destroyed. However, weapons that may have historical significance may be given to museums.
- Are you targeting the recreational hunters, farmers, or homeowners? Isn’t there a better way for police to go after the criminals who have the weapons?
Most gun owners in Alberta are responsible and are careful to properly store and care for their weapons. Our focus in this campaign is the person who no longer wishes to be in possession of a weapon or ammunition but is not sure how to safely dispose of it or is concerned he or she will face charges if the weapon is not registered and licensed.
- Why are you destroying the weapons instead of selling them? Wouldn’t selling them create an incentive for more guns to be turned in?
This is a gun amnesty program intended to get unwanted or illegal guns off the street.
There is a market for used guns and people who want to dispose of their legally owned weapons can sell them privately if they choose to.
- Do you expect to see a dramatic drop in the crime rate once the amnesty is over?
While a gun amnesty may not affect crime rates in a dramatic manner, we believe it will help prevent unwanted guns from falling into the wrong hands and give people the chance to dispose of their firearms in a safe and convenient manner.
- How will the guns be tested to determine if they’ve been used in a crime?
Through forensic testing, police should be able to determine whether a weapon has been used to commit a crime.
- How will the guns be disposed of?
The guns will be sent to an undisclosed location to be melted down. Any weapons turned over that may have historical significance may be given to museums.
- How many guns have you collected so far?
Every week we will update the statistics on our website at www.justice.gov.ab.ca/home/default.aspx?id=4895 / www.solgps.gov.ab.ca/home/default.aspx?id=4895.
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