Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen is planning to introduce a period of safe conduct for those who hand in illegal guns, according to a report in Jyllands-Posten.

The proposal has been recommended by the Copenhagen police force in order to attempt to limit the number of weapons in circulation.

“If the police feels that this will have an effect, we should do it. This is a good time as we are in the process of introducing stricter weapons laws, with between one and six years in prison for possession of an illegal weapon,” Mikkelsen says, adding that one gun less is one shooting episode less.

Illegal weapons
Copenhagen Police Director Hanne Bech Hansen says that the stricter laws on the way are a good incentive to hand in weapons.

“We know that a lot of people have illegal weapons in their attics and cellars. Many of the weapons are stolen and used by criminal groups. It is in everyone’s interest that they are taken out of cicrculation,” says Hansen.

She adds that it is Utopian to expect gang members to give up their weapons.

“But if just a few worried family members or gang member friends hand in a weapon, we’re getting there,” she says.