Police are are calling for residents to participate in the national firearms amnesty which will begin on July 1.
The amnesty will run until September 30.
During this time any person, including licence holders, have the ability to register or surrender unregistered firearms to a firearms dealer or police station without fear of prosecution.
Anyone wishing to register an unregistered firearm will not be charged any permit fees during this time.
In Queensland, there are four options available regarding the surrendering or registering of unregistered firearms.
These options are:
- Registering the firearm to an existing firearms licence (subject to the categories and conditions of the licence)
- Surrendering the firearm at a firearms dealer for commercial sale
- Surrendering a firearm at a firearms dealer or police station for safekeeping, pending the issue of a firearms licence
- Surrendering a firearm at a firearms dealer or police station for destruction
Articles covered by the amnesty include firearms, firearm related parts, sound suppressors, magazines, weapons (such as crossbows) and ammunition.
Call your local station prior to bringing in a weapon.
Wright MP Scott Buchholz said the amnesty presented an opportunity for anyone with unwanted and unregistered firearms to legally dispose or register them at approved drop-off points.
“While I have no doubt the majority of locals comply with firearm laws, those whose registration has lapsed or do not need or want their firearm anymore can risk serious fines and prosecution – so I encourage anyone in that situation to take advantage of the amnesty,” he said.
Beaudesert police station officer in charge acting Senior Sergeant Andrew Robinson said he thought most residents in the region were licensed.
“In other regions they have more of an issue,” he said.
“We have the aim to increase public safety and reduce those numbers of unlicensed weapons.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Robinson said firearms holders also needed to think about their homes and ensure they had suitable storage for their weapons.
Jimboomba police station officer in charge Peter Waugh said he would prefer anyone who was surrendering a firearm to call their local station prior to bringing in their weapon.
“We just believe this is this safest option for all involved,” he said.
Find more information about the national firearms amnesty here.
