Firearms amnesty: Oxley Police District officers receive more than 100 illegal firearms

At least 100 illegal items were surrendered to police stations or arms dealers in the area, including a revolver.

“It’s pleasing a large number of firearms and other weapons have been removed from the community,” he said.

“In particular the four pistols that were received because they can be easily concealed by a criminal.”

In Walcha a self-loading Mauser pistol, revolver, steel powerhead, two blank fire pistols and a silencer were handed in to local police.

Chief Inspector O’Reilly said people come into contact with unregistered firearms through various means.

“Often it’s through deceased estates and firearms that were never registered when registration came in that have been on family properties,” he said.

“Certainly there are benefits to having firearms registered and that is tracing them if they are lost or stolen – when we’re investigating a serious crime our ballistics capability allows us to analyse a weapon and cartridge and match them.

“To be able to trace the origins of a firearm is useful.”

A 22 Magnum, shotguns and air rifles were also surrendered to police and dealers.

Read also:

Less guns were surrendered than last year, but 107 firearms is still a significant number of weapons to be removed from the community Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

Police will also conduct risk-based safe storage inspections to ensure firearms are secured, officers welcome surrendered guns outside the amnesty.

Sign up to receive The Leader’s breaking news and top stories straight to your inbox