Australian state to melt down and destroy thousands of guns

The most populous state in Australia is working to melt and dispose of over three tons of firearms seized over the past year.

Police in New South Wales amassed over 2,809 firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and pistols, from criminal investigations and submissions. They are working to melt down the deadly weapons into steel and other recyclable materials in an effort to keep the guns off of the streets as several nations increasingly look to restrict firearms in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting.

"We've all seen the harm that is caused by the unlawful use of firearms and the fear it can cause within the broader community," Police Commissioner Karen Webb said, per 9News. "Some of these items are collected through long-term, complex criminal investigations, and others are located through isolated search warrants and police incidents."

Melting down guns in Australia is standard practice for law enforcement. Between 1996 and 2015, over 1 million guns were seized or surrendered and then melted down, according to the University of Sydney.