The Regina Police Service is offering a two-week firearms amnesty in the hope of reducing gun crimes in the city.
Police say they will not pursue charges related to any unauthorized firearms turned in as part of the amnesty, which runs until Feb. 15.
The force says there were 141 violent offences involving a gun in Regina last year — a 94 per cent increase from the five-year average.
Another 55 guns were reported stolen, up 57 per cent from the previous year.
Anyone turning in firearms can choose between a one-month bus pass or a month-long pass to a leisure centre.
The law dictates that any guns turned in be destroyed.
"Our intent is simply to take the guns off the streets and give people a chance to turn them over to police officers where they will be destroyed," Chief Evan Bray said Wednesday.
At least one businessman is questioning whether destroying the weapons is the best idea.
"Everybody wants the guns off the streets. I hope it works. I hope we can help a few people out, but there is value in a lot of these firearms," said Darryl Schemenauer of TnT Gunworks and Sporting Goods.
"I don't think it's going to hurt my business so much. We just don't like to see a firearm destroyed when there could be other uses for it."
He said some firearms are historic, so there's a reason they should be kept. Some guns could be donated to new hunters or instructors. Others could be resold or the parts reused.
Schemenauer doesn't believe the amnesty will catch criminals, but will instead draw in those who have unwittingly inherited firearms. Police have openly said that's their main target.
Tracey Wilson, board chairwoman of the Canadian Coalition of Firearms Rights, said they are also accepting guns. Members will come to homes and safely give guns a second life.
"Firearms that are turned into the amnesty are destroyed, which often eliminates that piece of history or robs that firearm of its chance of becoming useful and enjoyed again," she said.
"They could be literally destroying hundreds, if not thousands, of firearms that could be repurposed safely and legally and benefit the community by not having them still floating around out there."
Wilson said she would support changes to legislation so that her group could work with police on finding other ways to deal with unwanted guns — possibly a kind of recycling program.
— CJME
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.