General News
6 April, 2022
Surrender illegal guns
THE SECOND phase of a highly successful state-wide illicit firearms campaign is being launched by Crime Stoppers, imploring Mareeba residents to say something before it’s to late and surrender their illegal guns.
Crime Stoppers has partnered with the Australian Government to roll out a permanent national firearms amnesty, cracking down on the estimated 260,000 firearms in the domestic illicit market.
Initially, the campaigns first phase saw 2206 firearms surrendered, including 58 firearms of interest as of 10 March 2022.
Crime Stoppers Queensland Director Greg Beale said while Australia had some of the toughest gun controls in the world, illicit firearms were an increasingly desirable commodity facilitating criminal activity and putting the community in danger.
“Phase 1 of our campaign in 2021 was to encourage those with unregistered or unwanted firearms to surrender without penalty,” he said.
“Now in Phase 2, we want Queenslanders to share what they know when it comes to illicit firearms in their community.
“Now is the time to reduce firearm violence on our streets and in our homes. The Mareeba community can feel safe in knowing that when reporting illicit firearms in your community to Crime Stoppers, you will remain anonymous.”
Being caught with an unregistered or illegal firearm outside amnesty conditions could result in a fine of up to $66,725, up to 13 years in jail, and a criminal record.
Information about individual state and territory requirements, including how and where to surrender firearms, can be found at www.crimestoppers.com.au
