Do You Know Where a Gun or Other Weapons are in Mississauga?

A spring gun amnesty program is taking place across Mississauga and the rest of Ontario for the month of April, Peel Regional Police announced Thursday.

Residents will have an opportunity to turn in unwanted guns and ammunition for destruction in a safe, controlled environment.

Items such as hunting rifles, shotguns and antique firearms are often inherited by family members who are looking for a safe method of disposal, say police.

Citizens are also being encouraged to dispose of replica firearms, pellet guns, or any weapons that could be used to commit a criminal offence.

Weapons-related Criminal Code charges won’t be laid during the amnesty.

Keep in mind, there’s no amnesty offered for people who turn in weapons which have been used in the commission of a crime, say police, adding “no anonymous submissions will be accepted.”

Peel police ran a similar initiative in May 2017 which yielded 69 guns, six edged weapons or knives, and 75 pounds of ammunition.

The amnesty extends to all firearms including handguns, long arms and non-restricted, restricted or prohibited weapons.

Weapons can’t be brought to police stations.

Arrangements can be made for a safe pickup by phoning the Amnesty Hotline, starting April 1, at 905-460-4122.

Anyone with information related to illegal firearms can call the street crime gang unit at (905) 453-2121 ext. 7704 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For guns located outside of the Region of Peel, residents can phone Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 to make arrangements for a safe pick up of their firearms and/or ammunition.