‘Hand it in’: gun amnesty targets 260,000 unregistered firearms across Australia

A national gun amnesty has been launched across Australia, with holders told to surrender their illegal firearms or face the full force of the law.

The three-month campaign is encouraging people to surrender any illegal guns in their possession and dob in neighbours, family and friends to Crime Stoppers.

It is estimated more than 260,000 unregistered guns are in circulation in Australia.

Home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, in Melbourne on Thursday to announce the amnesty, said there was no excuse for anyone in Australia to have an illicit firearm.

“Our message today is simple ... hand it in,” she said in a statement.