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Gun Amnesty Program to End July 15

V.I. residents have less than two weeks left to avail themselves of the chance to renew expired gun licenses or turn in unwanted or illegal firearms.
The V.I. Police Department’s gun amnesty program concludes July 15.
One facet of the department’s effort to keep illegal weapons off the streets, the amnesty program began April 15.
Individuals with illegal, unregistered, unwanted or found firearms can turn them over to the police department with no questions asked, according to a release from the department.
“Too frequently, these deadly weapons fall into the wrong hands,” the news release said. “The amnesty program reduces the chance these weapons will be stolen or taken and used in a violent crime. Once handed in, the weapons will undergo forensic testing and then be scheduled for disposal.”
Firearms owners with expired gun licenses can renew their licenses during the amnesty program without penalty. People with unregistered firearms can have them registered if the owner meets the qualifications to possess a gun license.
Anyone found with an unregistered firearm after this amnesty period will be in violation of the territory’s gun laws and could lose his license privileges and face prosecution.
First-time applicants will not be accepted during this period, but licensed gun owners can have their firearms placed in safekeeping by the police department.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Police Officer Karen Stout, the supervisor of the St. Croix Firearms Bureau, at 712-6023 or 712-6058 or by calling retired Officer Elfreda Robinson, supervisor of the St. Thomas/St. John Firearms Bureau, at 715-5519 or 715-5563.

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