50 guns, 40kg of ammo handed over during north Tassie amnesty

Police have seized more than 50 firearms including a World War II pistol and 40kg of ammunition during an amnesty drive across Northern Tasmania over the weekend.

More than 50 firearms including a World War II pistol and 40kg of ammunition have been seized by police during an amnesty drive across Northern Tasmania over the weekend.

Residents from Carrick, Newnham, Pipers River and St Helens handed in pistols and rifles to officers during random storage inspections across the region.

The operation was the first in over a year due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and comes following a spate of shootings and gun-related crime in the state’s north in recent weeks.

Dozens of firearms have been surrendered in a major firearms amnesty drive across Northern Tasmania this weekend. Picture: Tasmania Police

A number of historical items were seized - weapons that police say have been in the hands of residents for years.

“A lot of historical value in some of these firearms but people who have them and have had them for a long time, they haven’t bothered to register them,” Inspector Scott Flude said.

“Each time we do these we get three or four firearms that are of interest.”

Items surrendered to police included:

• 50 firearms
• Approximately 40kg of ammunition.
• A World War 2 Pistol
• A cut down 22 rifle
• A military-style rifle with a bayonet
• A further 10 firearms will be collected during the upcoming week.

A further 10 firearms are set to be taken off the streets in the coming days with the weapons to be sent to Hobart and destroyed by the end of the week. Another amnesty is scheduled for the North West Coast in the next two weeks as well as a national operation planned for July. Anyone with information about illegal firearms is being urged to come forward.