– The shotgun has not been used, and now I have cleaned it away from the cabin where it has been hanging for many years. It’s just a matter of getting it handed in for destruction, says Knut Meinseth (75) to TV 2.
HAPPY: Knut Meinseth is happy about the police’s weapons amnesty. Photo: Kristian Haug Hansen / TV 2
He has parked outside the police station in Ulsteinvik and retrieves the old shotgun from the trunk. He has lawfully followed the procedures from the police that the surrender of weapons in connection with the weapons amnesty must be agreed in advance.
Must have an agreement
Police station chief Hilde Sæter at Ulstein and Hareid police station receives Meinseth.
– It would be nice if you could unpack the weapon so that we can check that it is not loaded, says Sæter.
She says that the police are very concerned about the procedures for submission.
– The public who make contact and want to use the weapons amnesty receive clear instructions on how to deliver weapons and ammunition. The time for delivery must be agreed so that we can accept in a responsible manner. They must make sure that the weapon is not loaded, explains Sæter.
GET IN TOUCH: Police station chief Hilde Sæter says the public must get in touch in advance to arrange the handing in of weapons. Photo: Kristian Haug Hansen / TV 2
According to the police, gun amnesty is a preventive measure where citizens can hand in weapons without being punished for having an unregistered weapon.
Most in Trøndelag
A poll conducted by TV 2 in the police districts shows a great interest in getting rid of unregistered weapons. Trøndelag police district states that by the end of January, they had received 380 different weapons divided into shotguns, rifles, revolvers, pistols and one machine gun. In addition, five grenades and 500 kilograms of ammunition have been delivered.
In Oslo, the police have received 335 weapons in total, of which 142 were rifles and nine machine guns, three kilograms of explosives and 30 kilograms of ammunition.
WEAPON COLLECTION: Oslo police district has received 335 weapons in January 2023 after the weapons amnesty came into effect at New Year. Photo: Oslo police district
According to a national overview from the Norwegian Police Directorate, this has been submitted to the country’s police district at the end of January:
Agder: 169 guns.
Finnmark: 17 guns.
Inland: 218 guns.
Møre and Romsdal: 172 weapons.
Nordland: 40 weapons.
South-West: 44 guns.
South-East: 122 guns.
Troms: 36 guns.
West: 218 guns.
East: 265 guns.
The governor of Svalbard: 7 guns.
The figures are divided into 777 shotguns, 889 rifles, 96 revolvers, 227 pistols, 24 machine guns, four machine guns and six combination weapons. In addition, four kilograms of explosives, 38 grenades, 154 knives and 1,500 kilograms of ammunition have been delivered.
– The weapons amnesty is introduced to prevent crime and serious accidents, so we are happy about all illegal unregistered weapons that come into the police, says Liv Aasberg Corneliussen, section chief in the Norwegian Police Directorate.
TAKEN CARE OF: These are knives and other illegal weapons that have been delivered into Oslo. Photo: Oslo Police District
– Don’t wait
Some also want to keep weapons that have not been registered, and then they are kept by the police until the owner meets the conditions for possessing weapons.
– Weapons that are to be destroyed are collected and sent to Kripos, Hilde Sæter tells TV 2.
The weapons amnesty runs until 1 June, and Sæter says it is important for the police to bring in as many weapons as possible.
TO BE DESTROYED: Weapons are collected and transported to Kripos for destruction. Photo: Kristian Haug Hansen / TV 2
– There is no reason to wait until the end of the period. It is important for the police to have an overview of the weapons lying around and that these are registered. It goes without saying that loaded weapons pose a very big risk, says police station chief Sæter.
Knut Meinseth is happy he is now rid of the shotgun.
– I bought it when I served in the military many years ago. There was no reason for it to sit there rusting when I had the opportunity to hand it in, says Knut Meinseth.
