Solomons Firearms amnesty nets 18 firearms and 2800 rounds of ammunitions

The Solomon Islands Commissioner of Police, Mathew Varley  has announced the closure of the 2017 Firearms Amnesty last night at midnight (9th June 2017).

A total of 18 firearms and more than 2800 round of ammunitions have been surrendered to police.

This consisted of:

• Two (2) SR88 rifles, likely to be former police weapons stolen in the Tension era;
• One (1) pump action shot gun
• Several .22 calibre bolt action rifles
• Several home made or modified weapons
• Two (2) handguns, including one pistol and one WW II revolver
• Two machine gun frames and barrels from WWII.
• A portion of the rounds of ammunition are old and likely to be from the WWII era, however hundreds of rounds of live and workable ammunition were also surrendered.

These items are all now safely stored in the custody of the RSIPF.

Commissioner Varley thanked those who handed in their weapons and the stakeholders who worked alongside police to encourage others to do the same.

Commissioner Varley said, “Our RSIPF officers and SIPPCRA members have conducted dozens of engagement talks and visits to communities and villages right across Solomon Islands. We are grateful for the courage and honesty shown by community groups and leaders who worked with us to progress this Amnesty. We thank those who turned in the guns. Each gun and bullet handed in has made Solomon Islands a safer place.”

Commissioner Varley reminds Solomon Islanders, “This is the Government’s final amnesty there will be no leniency for persons found with illegal firearms after 9 June. Anyone found now with firearms will be arrested and charged for illegal possession of firearms.”

The Government and RSIPF will announce details about the destruction of the firearms soon.

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