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Apia, 29 July 2024 – Samoa Police have called for a gun amnesty to rid the country of illegal weapons and keep communities safe, especially ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.
Deputy Police Commissioner Papali’i Monalisa Tiai-Keti announced the amnesty just a week after a detective sergeant was shot dead while arresting a man who had shot dead another man the day before.
The amnesty will run from August 1 to September 30 and provides those in possession of illegal weapons with the opportunity to turn them in without facing any consequences.
The amnesty is governed by Samoa’s Arms Regulations 1960, which give the Minister the power to declare amnesty periods and outline the conditions under which firearms, ammunition, explosives and dangerous weapons can be surrendered without penalty.
“The minister has approved the amnesty and urged individuals in possession of unregistered or illegal weapons to hand them in during the amnesty period without fear of prosecution,” Papali told the media.
Papalli warned those who continue to possess unregistered illegal firearms that there will be legal consequences if these illegal weapons are discovered during routine policing operations.
Illegal firearms handed in to police during the two previous gun amnesties were destroyed under police supervision.
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