Offensive weapons amnesty to start tomorrow

A two-month firearms and offensive weapons amnesty is to begin tomorrow. The Government initiative is being rolled out ahead of the introduction of tougher new laws on firearms from November 1st.

The Irish Times understands that while members of the public surrendering illegally held guns will escape prosecution for not having a licence, the amnesty does not offer immunity from prosecution for more serious gun crime.

Each weapon handed in at a Garda station will be examined by ballistics experts. If it has been used in the commission of a crime, the person who surrendered it will face questioning about the gun's history and possible criminal prosecution.

While primarily aimed at taking illegally held firearms out of circulation, the amnesty will also apply to other offensive weapons including knives. It will run until the end of October. After that point a new set of laws relating to firearms offensives comes into effect under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Under the new provisions periods of imprisonment of between five and 10 years will apply to a number of offences.

These include possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, with criminal intent, with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, while hijacking a vehicle, and use or production of a firearm to resist arrest.

New offences concerning the modification of firearms, such as "sawing-off" a shotgun, have also been created.

Some firearms of certain calibre and muzzle energy will be classified as "restricted".

The owners of such guns will be required to apply to the Garda Commissioner for permission to keep them, rather than to senior officers in their local areas.

Unveiling the measures four weeks ago, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said their enactment was being delayed until the beginning of November so that the amnesty could run its course and people with illegally held firearms could regularise their positions.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has previously criticised the amnesty, saying it would do nothing to take guns out of the hands of organised crime gangs.

However, Government sources have said a relatively high number of guns, particularly shotguns, being used by these gangs are being stolen in robberies.

They have said the amnesty is primarily aimed at taking these out of circulation.

Of the 1,330 firearms stolen in the three-year period between 2002 and 2004, 961 were shotguns, 271 were rifles, 28 were pistols or revolvers and the remaining 70 were classified as "other".

An Garda Síochána is involved in the biggest operation against armed gangs since the aftermath of the murder of Veronica Guerin 10 years ago.

Operation Anvil, which targets armed drugs gangs, was established in May 2005 and has recently been extended into the regions. Some €21 million in funding has been ring-fenced for overtime hours for officers working on it.

It has resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of major robberies in Dublin and the seizure of some 700 firearms. It has also broken up a major drugs gang operating in Louth and Meath and another in Limerick city.