McDowell to announce details of two-month gun amnesty
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is set to announce a two-month firearms amnesty today, in advance of the introduction of tougher new laws on gun crime.
The amnesty will get underway tomorrow and will allow members of the public to surrender illegally-held guns without being prosecuted for not having a licence.
However, it will not include any immunity from prosecution for more serious gun crime.
The weapons, which must be handed into gardaí, will be examined by ballistics experts to see if they have been used in any crimes.
Earlier this year, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors came out against the idea of a weapons amnesty, saying hardened criminals were unlikely to give up their guns.
Mr McDowell himself has also said he believes the initiative will have little effect on gun crime as it will be ignored by criminal gangs.
