CALL TO HAND IN UNREGISTERED GUNS

Crimestoppers are encouraging people with illegal firearms to hand them in or apply to get them registered.

CEO Dr Vince Hughes said burglars often target people they knew had unlicensed guns.

Dr Highes said, “We do know that people who don’t have a license for their firearm tend not to secure it either so when someone breaks into a house they have access to that firearm as well, that firearm can be taken away and sold on the black market to an organised crime gang.”

Dr Hughes asked people with unlicensed guns to consider their own safety.

“If you don’t need it hand it in and if you know someone who has one who doesn’t really need it have a conversation with them.”

He said since they ran Part 1 of the campaign last year, people handed 1,469 guns and gun parts to WA Police and 43,943 rounds of ammunition.

Phase 2 of the campaign now encourages people who know of an illegal or unregistered gun to report it in confidence.

“At the end of the day relatives know when things aren’t right so what we’re asking is if the conversation won’t work or you don’t think the conversation will work then maybe it’s time to make a report” he said.