Sweden launches new weapons amnesty
Published: 1 Mar 13 07:55 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46478/20130301/
Sweden on Friday commenced with its first weapons amnesty in more than five years, allowing anyone to turn illegal firearms in to police with no questions asked.
- Man jailed after throwing baby at police (11 Feb 13)
- Swedish mob gets 'savvy' as pressure mounts (7 Jan 13)
- Lenient drug sentences worry Swedish police (1 Jan 13)
"Reducing illegal weapons possession is a very important measure for reducing gun violence."
According to the terms of the amnesty, which lasts from March 1st through May 31st, 2013, anyone can turn in a firearm or ammunition without the risk of being charged with illegal weapons possession.
To avoid prosecution, people must turn the weapons in voluntarily and police have agreed not to ask any questions or make inquiries as to the origins of the weapons.
The goal of the programme is to reduce the number of illegal weapons on Sweden's streets.
"Compared with licenced weapons, there is a much higher risk that illegal weapons will be misused or fall into the wrong hands," said Thorsell.
"These are firearms that are often stored improperly, tucked away or hidden in attics or sheds."
Police also hope the amnesty will prompt people with modified or homemade firearms to turn them in.
The last time Sweden carried out a weapons amnesty was in 2007, at which time roughly 13,000 firearms were turned in to police.
Following the amnesty, the weapons and ammunition collected by police will be destroyed.
TT/The Local/dl
Follow The Local on Twitter
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö
Emmelie De Forest of Denmark takes over from Sweden's Loreen as the Eurovision Song Contest champion, capping a spectacle that kept Malmö and the rest of Europe cheering on Saturday night. READ () »
Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final
The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest Final is live in Malmö, southern Sweden. The Local brings you all the latest news, reactions, and details surrounding Europe's biggest pop music spectacle. READ () »
Sweden beats Finland in hunt for hockey gold
Sweden will be playing for gold in the ice hockey World Championships after dispatching longstanding rivals and co-hosts Finland with a 3-0 win on Saturday. READ () »
Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street
Three people were wounded during an armed robbery on a jewellery store in Ängelholm, southern Sweden on Saturday, with the robbers escaping on a yellow moped. READ () »
County council admits to buying out 'bomb man'
The Sörmland County Council in central Sweden 'accidentally' hired a convicted criminal who had served a long prison sentence for threatening to blow up oil storage tanks and had to pay 1million kronor in severance pay to get rid of him. READ () »
Man wounded in schoolyard shooting
Panic broke out at a Gothenburg school on Friday evening as one man was wounded in a shooting which could be linked to a violent robbery that took place in the area on the same day. READ () »
Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming'
A 15-year-old girl has admitted to setting up the Instagram account that caused hundreds of teenagers to riot in Gothenburg last year, but her 16-year-old friend has denied involvement. READ () »
Scandal ousts Stockholm economics school head
The president of the Stockholm School of Economics, one of Sweden's most prestigious universities, has been forced out in response to a scandal over his hiring of a high-ranking official who'd been convicted of insider trading. READ () »
- 19/05 Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö »
- 18/05 Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final »
- 18/05 Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street »
- 18/05 County council admits to buying out 'bomb man' »
- 18/05 Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming' »
- 17/05 'Sweden next in line for housing market crash' »
- 17/05 French oyster lovers to munch on Swedish spats »
- 17/05 Lesbian kiss fails to shock Eurovision fans »
- 16/05 Assange's sex crimes accuser speaks out »
- 16/05 Swedish bride murder suspect's health worsens »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
In cooperation with DoToday
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- LCI Coordinator
- Tender Lead Subsea 7656
- Team Leader ? Customer Service
- C++ Developer
- Lead Product Designer
- Lead Product Designer - Artist Experience
- Lead Product Designer - Mobile
- Senior Alliance Manager -Wireless Telco
- Senior Technical Architect - Stockholm or Copenhagen or Helsinki
- Boutique Manager / Store Manager
Be British, be sincere and be bold »
"Sweden is a veritable smorgåsbord for UK business. I see our work as a bit like a kind of dragon’s den for both for larger and smaller British companies. It is about matching the UK companies, not with cash, but with Swedish market opportunities." READ »
- 13/5 22:40 Week 20 matches (Stripes News)
- 26/4 02:20 Stockholm Taxi Wars: Über fail (Boston Blatte)
- 19/4 15:47 UK and Sweden sign Defence MOU (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
- LCI Coordinator
- Tender Lead Subsea 7656
- Team Leader ? Customer Service
- C++ Developer
- Lead Product Designer
- Lead Product Designer - Artist Experience
- Lead Product Designer - Mobile
- Senior Alliance Manager -Wireless Telco
- Senior Technical Architect - Stockholm or Copenhagen or Helsinki
- Boutique Manager / Store Manager
- 16/05 Rob for Russian Speaking
- 16/05 pet carrier
- 16/05 Big Sister/ Nanny
- 16/05 I need an apartment any where in or near to Stockholm
- 15/05 English speaking babysitter
- 15/05 Lookinf for track driver job!
- 19:55 Where to buy rubbing alcohol?
- 16:49 Posting parcel from Sweden
- 15:34 Drinking laws in Sweden confused!
- 15:31 In need of a home in Uppsala from August...
- 14:57 Questions Regarding Swedish Literature
- 13:18 What does Lagom really mean?
- 12:26 Does any business owner needs a partnership
- 09:38 Online Shopping (Womens Clothing)
- 20:46 Questions concerning MV
- 19:25 My scary encounter with Swedbank.
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
Sweden 0.41
Poland 0.09
Czech Reupbic 0.19
Denmark 0.27
Hungary 0.07
Israel 0.09
Jordan 0.49
Tajikistan 0.22
Japan 0.01
India 0.26
Kyrgyzstan 0.54
Gun-related murder rates in the "developed" world (source: OECD):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2012/12/firearm-OECD-UN-data3.jpg
Enough said.
Compared with licenced weapons, there is a much higher risk that illegal weapons will be misused or fall into the wrong hands," said Thorsell
Very true. Cost savings and savings in crime will be good, too.
@Jay - if folks turn them in then they don't want them around anyways and this is a good way of getting black market weapons off the street for very little in resources. People who legally have guns and want to keep them (Swedes have lots of guns at home) can and do.
What about Switzerland, which has a higher rate of gun ownership than Iraq but a lower homicide rate? Can it be tied so tightly to gun ownership or are their other factors at play that need to be addressed in Sweden in order to solve this catastrophic murder rate in Sweden (where one person out of every 244,000 people gets killed with a gun).
A gun buyback program and changes in gun ownership laws have reduced mass shootings in Australia, and have accelerated the rate of decline of gun related homicides (both self inflicted and murder rates),
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704353/
In the 18 years before the gun law reforms after the Port Arthur massacre, there were 13 mass shootings in Australia, and in the 17 years afterwards, there has been one mass shooting with two fatalities.
No laws require 100% success rates for their justification (just like speeding tickets do not reduce speeding to zero). I am not against gun ownership for hunting and sport shooting, but semi and fully automatics with large clips have no place in civilized society outside of closely monitored storage lockers in shooting ranges, or in the hands of special police and military units.