Firearms surrendered to Tasmania Police as part of national Crime Stoppers firearms amnesty

A police command bus has set up in Hobart’s northern suburbs as part of a national event aimed at taking dangerous guns off the street.

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A decades-old .303 rifle that was possibly used during wartime was among a number of guns surrendered to police on Saturday during a firearms amnesty in Tasmania’s south.

A Tasmania Police command bus set up at Bridgewater’s Green Point Plaza shopping complex car park as part of a national Crime Stoppers initiative.

In Tasmania, there is a permanent firearms amnesty where residents can hand in illicit or unregistered guns without fear of prosecution.

Senior Sergeant Jason Klug with the firearms and ammunition that were handed in as part of the amnesty day at Bridgewater. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Senior Sergeant Jason Klug said an array of firearms and ammunition were handed in.

“We’ve had an old .303 rifle, which to my knowledge dates back to wartime, that somebody has had within their residence,” he said.

“There’s been other firearms that have been handed in, that have been handed down from family members when they have passed.

“So there’s certainly been an array of firearms and different circumstances, and it’s great to see people are working with us and coming and taking those guns off the street.”

In all, there were eight firearms surrendered along with 30kg of ammunition.

Sgt Klug said there was no trickery involved in the amnesty and that people could feel confident they would not be prosecuted.

“We are both working to the same cause,” he said.

“People that are turning up here don’t want the firearms. We want them out of the community, and it’s very much a partnership between us and the community.”

Sgt Klug said there numerous people had attended and asked about how to obtain a firearms licence or how to register a firearm.

Crime Stoppers Tasmania chair David Daniels said it was great to see the community coming forwards and taking part in the national amnesty.

“It’s been a good community reaction and with the presence of the command bus here, people are taking an interest,” he said.

“It’s certainly been successful.”

The amnesty came after news this week that Australia would get a permanent national firearms amnesty to remove dangerous weapons from the streets.

Crime Stoppers Australia has partnered with the Department of Home Affairs to back the move, which will allow people to hang in unregistered guns and weapon parts anonymously and without penalty.

It follows exclusive reports by News Corp showing that 25 years after the Port Arthur massacre, major loopholes had developed in Australia’s firearm laws and a national firearms register had never been introduced.

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