NEARLY 200 guns, including one from the Boer War, have been handed over to Launceston police as part of a crackdown on firearm offences in the North.
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From pistols to shotguns to Afghan long arms, the firearm haul was almost double the arsenal collected at a Southern mobile amnesty in August.
Launceston CIB was pleased with the results of the weekend's mobile firearm amnesty at the Launceston Silverdome, saying there was now zero chance that the guns could fall into the wrong hands.
``As far as we're concerned this is an excellent result - every one of these firearms that is off the street is one less that can be accessed by the criminal element,'' Launceston CIB Detective Inspector Scott Flude said yesterday.
``Probably 80 per cent of the firearms . . . have never been registered and are kicking around people's houses unsecured, basically accessible to anyone who had the mind to take one.''
Inspector Flude said the high number didn't necessarily mean the North had more guns than in the South.
``This is is a significant haul . . . we're not really sure how many more are out there but we'll keep conducting this amnesty with a view to taking as many out of the state as we can.''
More mobile amnesties are expected in the North, including in Burnie and Devonport early next year.
Inspector Flude said the guns would be taken to a Hobart scrap metal yard for melting under police supervision. The guns are all checked with their serial numbers run against the state's firearm registry beforehand.
The weekend's mobile amnesty was the first in Launceston since an outbreak of tit-for-tat shooting in the city this year.
The spike in shootings, which saw an innocent bystander accidentally shot in the leg in York Street, had recently subsided due to a number of arrests.
However, on Thursday Ravenswood residents reported hearing gunshots from bushland at the back of Pioneer Parade during the afternoon and evening.
Police said it was not connected to shootings earlier in the year.
Police have reminded the community that Tasmania has a permanent amnesty in place. Unwanted or unregistered firearms can be handed in to any police station or registered firearms dealer for destruction.
Anyone with information about gun-related crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
