Saugeen Shores Police Service, in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police and other municipal police services, are holding a Gun Amnesty during the month of April.

In a March 27 media release, Gun Amnesty is for any Ontario resident who wishes to voluntarily surrender unwanted or illegally-owned firearms, weapons, accessories or ammunition.

The Amnesty is a way to provide citizens with a safe way to surrender weapons and enhance public safety. During the Amnesty, police will not recommend weapons-related Criminal Code charges that might otherwise apply to people who are turning in these items. There is no Amnesty offered for people who turn in weapons that have been used in the commission of a crime. No anonymous submissions will be accepted.

Interested gun owners are strongly urged to call Saugeen Shores Police dispatch at 519-832-2500 to arrange for officers to attend and safely retrieve the weapons.

Under no circumstances should anyone deliver guns or ammunition directly to police facilities.

The goal of the program is to improve public safety by reducing the number of firearms in our communities and the risk of firearms being stolen and ending up in the hands of those with criminal intent.

The Gun Amnesty program is taking place across Ontario from April 1 to April 30, 2018.