No-questions-asked gun surrender program begins

The Minneapolis Police Department launched a new initiative in domestic violence prevention at the end of October, marking the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a new gun surrender program. The pilot program, created in conjunction with the Hennepin County court system, is what police call the first of its kind in Minnesota.

According to police officials, federal law requires any person who has been convicted of a domestic violence crime to surrender all firearms and ammunition. But there has never been a process in place for people to comply with this law. The new gun surrender program will make it easier for police to accept all firearms and ammunition from people who have been convicted of domestic violence crime. Beginning Nov. 1, the Firearm Surrender Program provides all residents of Minneapolis a way to turn in a firearm at any police precinct.
In order to turn in a firearm or ammunition Minneapolis

Police ask that you:

• Unload the firearm.
• Put the firearm and ammunition in separate bags or containers.
• Bring firearms and/or ammunition to any police precinct.
• Tell the officer on duty that you are there to turn in a gun.
• Do not remove the gun from its bag or box unless asked to do so.

According to police, an estimated 48 percent of homes in Minnesota have guns and research shows that many people with children do not store their guns securely. Gun surrender is always available to anyone who would like to get rid of an unwanted firearm with no questions asked. Families, especially those with children and teens, may want to take this opportunity to turn in their guns and make their home a safer place.