Saskatchewan police take in 268 guns during three-week gun amnesty

Nearly 270 guns were turned in to Saskatchewan police forces during the 2023 Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police gun amnesty.

In a media release Wednesday, the association said 268 guns were surrendered to police across the province between March 20 and this past Sunday. As well, 4,762 rounds of ammunition were turned in.

The annual amnesty allows people to turn in their unwanted or replica firearms and ammunition without fear of charges being laid for unauthorized possession or careless storage.

“We are encouraged by the number of provincial residents who chose to participate in this proactive program,” Saskatoon Police Service acting deputy chief Cam McBride said in the release. “While we recognize that firearms are a part of life in Saskatchewan, we cannot forget the threat posed should unwanted firearms fall into the hands of criminals.”

The Saskatoon Police Service collected 114 guns during the amnesty period, with the Saskatchewan RCMP (81), Regina Police Service (40), Moose Jaw Police Service (24), Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety (six) and Weyburn Police Service (three) also taking in unwanted guns.

Province-wide, 4,762 rounds of ammunition were collected. Ideally, McBride said that number will continue to decrease each year as a result of the amnesty program.

Saskatoon Police Service acting deputy chief Cam McBride. (Dulce Abela/650 CKOM)

The association added that while the amnesty program has ended, people who want to surrender guns can still contact police to do so.

“Our top priority – and the top priority of all our provincial policing partners – is the safety and security of the people we serve,” Saskatchewan RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Udey said in the release.

“We want to thank all those who took the time to arrange for the pick-up of their unwanted and unused firearms. The potential for these firearms to be lost or stolen and end up in the hands of those who may use them in unlawful offences no longer exists.”

McBride said the Saskatoon Police hire a local contractor to cut the weapons into pieces that can’t be reused or reassembled.

He said Saskatoon police don’t have the ability to maintain any firearms turned in during the program or to reuse them.