Police in Samoa have received more than 20 guns in three days as part of a gun amnesty that runs until the end of the year.
The Police Commissioner Egon Keil and Acting Prime Prime Minister Lautafi Selafi Fio Purcell at the launching of the gun amnesty in Samoa Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
With clearance from the government, the police have announced that no one will be investigated or charged if they hand in illegal weapons, or guns of any kind.
Yesterday police destroyed around 80 guns that had been earlier confiscated through crime investigations, as a demonstration.
The police commissioner, Egon Keil, says the purpose is to save lives and he hopes many more will come forward.
He says police can attend people's homes if they are too afraid to handle the weapons.
"But we've actually had people walk in with rifles and handguns and delivered it to us right in our station, which is pretty amazing. If you've got illegal weapons with you, this is the time to get rid of them, because we are not going to arrest you, we are not going to ask questions, we just want them off the street"
Mr Keil says the only legal weapons in Samoa are pistols, shotguns and .22 rifles.
