Czechs return close to 8,000 unlicensed weapons in third gun amnesty

Czechs have handed in close to 8,000 unlicensed weapons within the third gun amnesty in the country’s modern history, the head of the weapons’ department of the police presidium Milan Komárek told journalists on Wednesday. He said that people had handed over pistols, rifles, shotguns and even a heavy machine gun. Under the amnesty, which lasted for six months, people were allowed to hand over unlicensed weapons with no questions asked and may even ask to have them back as long they acquire a gun license for them. Some of the weapons are a legacy from the war years which people said they had found in their attics and failed to register. Under Czech law the punishment for unlicensed weapons can range from a high fine to five years in prison.