The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

wp 6--Bcugog Citizen ~ Tuesday , November 10, 1993 "- Weapons wanted under Amnes From now until December 1, Durham Region Police will be accepting any kind of un- wanted weapons, ammunition, even explosives under a federal "Weapons Amnesty Program." "It's a no questions asked program," explained Sgt. Archie Mackinnon last week. "This is a great idea for people unfamiliar with guns or weapons who don't want them around the house any more, especially if there are young children in the house," he said. Sgt. Mackinnon is in charge of the property bureau with the Durham Police and all weapons turned in under this program end up in his office in Oshawa. During the first week of the program, about 35 rifles and shot-guns and a half-dozen hand-guns were turned in to police stations in Durham Region. Sgt. Mackinnon hopes that number increases dramatically between now and the end of the month. "We want to see weapons off the street, or out of people's homes," he said. Just how does a person end up with a weapon he or she no longer wants? Sgt. Mackinnon said it may be an old rifle or hand-gun passed down by an uncle or a grandfather years ago. It may be one brought home by a serviceman from World War 2. Under this Amnesty program, the Police really don't care how a weapon came into a person's possession. If that person wants to get rid of it, the Police will take it, no questions asked There may be weapons that have never been registered, or those that now fall under restricted or prohibited categories. Under this Amnesty Program, persons have three options when turning in a weapor: they can ask that it be destroyed, they can have it legally registered, or if the weapon has any military or historical signficance, they can ask the Police to turn it over to a museum or perhaps the collection of a militia regiment. Sgt. Mackinnon stresses the "no questions asked" aspect of this program. "If somebody walks in with a gun they've had 15 or 20 years and wants to have it registered, we are not going to say 'how come you've had this so long and want to register it now," he stated. The program applies not only to rifles and hand-guns, but knives, martial arts weapons, ammunition, explosives, detonating caps, even hand grenades and military shells. Even "replica" weapons will be accepted. Sgt. Mackinnon displayed one of these last week. It was a very real- looking replica of a U.S. Army .46 automatic hand-gun. In the case of explosives, police experts will handle these or even call in military experts if necessary. And if somebody does not want to handle or transport old ammunition or Paula Lishman's Inventory Clearance Sale ~N OUTSTANDING SAVINGS OF UP TO 50% OFF OUR LUXURIOUS KNIT FURS Strollers, Blazers, Vests, Hats & More! NOVEMBER 14 - 15 Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Ye 14341 OLD SCUGOG ROAD, BLACKSTOCK (416) 986-5096 J explosives, the police will do this for people. So far, said Sgt. Mackinnon, nobody has turned up with live grenades or artillery shells. However, in Toronto recently, a man walked into a police office with a World War 2 shell that was not only "live," it was volatile. He had been using it as a door-jam in his home for years. Once a weapon is handed over to police, it is inspected, tagged, forms are filled out and finally, it is taken apart piece by piece. Wooden stocks are removed and the metal parts are eventually shipped to a smelter where they are melted down. Sgt. Mackinnon said police will take the name and address of people handing over weapons under this program, but it's not mandatory. If somebody declines to be identified, the police won't force the issue, he said. Anyone who wants to take advantage of this month-long nation-wide Amnesty can bring un-wanted weapons of any kind to any police station in Durham Region. And remember, no questions asked. ty Program Durham Police Sgt. Archie Mackinnon Author Ted Barris to visit store Author Ted Barris will be at Books Galore this Saturday, November 14 to promote his new book "Behind the Glory." Barris, a resident of Uxbridge is a noted writer, broadcaster and radio host. He has made award-winning documentaries for the CBC and the National Film Board. His latest book "Behind the Glory" explores the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in which men from many countries were trained as pilots, navigators, gunners and radio operators here in Canada. Barris interviewed over 200 of the instructors who worked with this program that helped turn the tide in the Second World War. It's one of the more fascinating stories to emerge from the last War. Mr. Barris will be at Books Galore starting at 3:00 PM. The store is located at 175 Perry Street. | BETTY BRITE DRYCLEANERS 1888 Scugog Street, Port Perry (beside Trader Sam's) 985-0997 SAME DAY SERVICE Yu