Tasmanians with unwanted firearms or weapons can hand them over to police at a mobile amnesty in Hobart’s northern suburbs on Saturday.
The Claremont collection point will operate on the foreshore grassed area on Main Road, at the intersection with Abbotsfield Road, from 11am to 2pm.
Inspector Jason Klug said the amnesty offered a chance for people to surrender unregistered firearms, 3D printed guns, crossbows, swords and knives without facing possession charges.
“A permanent firearms amnesty exists in Tasmania and that means unregistered or unwanted firearms can be surrendered to police without any action being taken in relation to possession offences,” Klug said.
He said mobile amnesties were “an important extension of that process” by bringing collection points directly into communities rather than requiring people to visit police stations.
“Our important goal is to remove weapons, such as firearms and knives, from our communities and to make those communities safer places for everyone to live, work and to raise their families,” Klug said.
Uniformed officers will accept firearms, parts and ammunition at the site.
Other weapons brought to the location will also be accepted.
“A mobile amnesty is a location within the community, that’s not a police station, where people can meet with officers and surrender items,” Klug said.
“And people can be assured that when they do hand these items over, they are going to be taken out of circulation and reduce the potential for harm.”
Police have warned people not to carry loaded firearms to the amnesty and to seek advice if unsure whether a weapon is loaded.
Those wishing to hand over items should approach officers first before surrendering anything.
