Half a dozen firearms in the Swift Current area were turned in during a province-wide gun amnesty program that wrapped up over the weekend.

The nearly three-week long event hosted by RCMP and police detachments across Saskatchewan offered the public a chance to dispose of unwanted guns with no questions asked.

Swift Current City RCMP Staff Sergeant Evan Gordon said firearms are often used as tools in rural areas to combat pests or for lawful hunting activities, however, sometimes there becomes a time when they're no longer needed or wanted by the owners.

"Rather than having them hang around and run the risk of being picked up by someone that has alternative desires or motives, it's good for us to be able to offer that outlet to people to turn those guns over," he said. "So that they know they're being disposed of in a safe and careful manner."

The City RCMP collected a pair of rifles during the amnesty from one individual - a number in line with last year's total.

"2020 was when we really started to advertise it, we saw a few more then, than we have this year and last year but I think COVID maybe had something to do with that," he explained. "It has been productive, our goal is to provide that outlet to people to get rid of these firearms safely, we're not looking to get people in trouble."

While the Swift Current Rural RCMP were a touch busier, receiving a total of four guns (two long rifles and two shotguns) and some .22 calibre ammo.

Although the annual amnesty program has come to a close, both Swift Current RCMP detachments will accept unwanted firearms from the public year-round.

"Give us a call and let us know you've got unused, unwanted firearms that you'd like to turn over to us," he said. "We'll get the information and develop a safe plan to either pick up those rifles or have them brought to a specific location."