More than 57,000 guns turned over by Australians during national amnesty

More than 57,000 guns were turned over in Australia last year, the BBC reported.

The guns were handed in during a three-month national amnesty during which Australians could turn over guns without fears of prosecution as part of an effort to limit the amount of illicit weapons in the country.

“Taking these unregistered firearms off the streets means they will not fall into the hands of criminals, who might use them to endanger the lives of innocent Australians,” Law Enforcement Minister Angus Taylor said Thursday.

Australians aren’t allowed to own an unregistered firearm and those who violate the law face repercussions including a $280,000 fine and up to 14 years in jail.

The national amnesty was held due to an increase in the number of illegal firearms in Australia, according to the BBC.

Nearly 2,500 automatic weapons and 2,900 handguns were turned in.