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AN ALBURY gun shop manager believes the national amnesty should be held year-round to give people a chance to surrender or register their weapons. About 300 guns have been handed in to Elk’s Hunting and Fishing since the amnesty began in July. About half have been for registration and half for destruction. The David Street business has had only standard guns brought in – usually family heirlooms – but assault rifles and a sub-machine gun have been handed over in other parts of NSW. Manager Justin Elkington said it made sense to run the amnesty all year. “If someone is cleaning out a machinery shed and finds their pop’s old .22, they should be able to hand it in and have it registered,” he said. “If the threat of them being penalised makes them scared to bring it in, they’re going to dispose of it incorrectly or hide it. “The majority of people want to hand that gun in or have it registered, but it’s only while the amnesty is on that there are no penalties. “When there’s no amnesty on, it’s not legal to register an unregistered firearm.” NSW residents are surrendering their firearms in far greater numbers than those in Victoria. Police statistics show more than 6400 firearms and related items have been handed in for registration, destruction or sale in NSW up to August 7. Victorians had handed over only 751 guns to the end of July. The amnesty runs until the end of September, and Mr Elkington encourages people to attend the business. Staff can fill out paperwork to register guns on the spot. Surrendered weapons are stored at the business and will be given to police for destruction. “It's halfway through the amnesty,” he said. “Anyone thinking about it should definitely come down in the next five or six weeks. “Just make sure the firearms are safe when they bring them in.” Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman said people should contact the police firearms registry to ensure the guns aren't dangerous before being handed in. Police said “under no circumstances” should loaded guns be taken into public places.

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