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Firearms Amnesty Program Announced on St. Croix
May 03, 2012
The Virgin Islands Police Department Firearms Unit in the St. Croix district is conducting an amnesty program to allow residents to renew their expired firearm licenses without penalty and to surrender unwanted firearms to police. The amnesty program will last two months beginning Monday, May 7 through Friday, July 6, and is part of the police department’s effort to keep illegal weapons off the streets.
During this period, individuals with illegal, unregistered, unwanted or found firearms are encouraged to turn them over to the police department. Too frequently, these deadly weapons fall into the wrong hands. 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. Firearm owners with expired gun licenses can renew their licenses during the amnesty program without penalty. Persons with unregistered firearms can have them registered if they meet the qualifications to possess a gun license.
Persons found with unregistered firearms after this amnesty period will be in violation, may lose their license privileges and face prosecution. First time applicants will not be accepted during this period. Licensed gun owners can store their firearms for a specific amount of time at the police department.
Anyone with any information about illegal fire arms are urged to call the anonymous tip line, Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.
You can do your part to safe guard this community. For every gun taken off the streets, a life can be saved.
For more information contact Police Officer Karen Stout, Supervisor of the St. Croix Firearms Unit at 712-6023 or 712-6058. Stay tuned to the VIPD broadcasts for a similar program initiated in the district of St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island.