Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said yesterday that the government will launch a two-week gun amnesty to give people an opportunity to turn over illegal guns without fear of prosecution.

"The commissioner of police, of course, will be seeking a declaration of a two-week gun amnesty by our honorable prime minister, which will give persons in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender these weapons without jeopardy and persecution," she said during the 2023/2024 budget debate.

"Let me make it clear, there will be no reward of money to surrender any illegal firearm. You will not be paid.

"The stark reality is that there may be some among us who may have inherited a firearm from a husband, grandfather or uncle who may have had it locked in a safe and just paid no attention to it. We say, time to give it up and bring it in.

"There may also be individuals, particularly young men, living in tough communities, who are so honest, hardworking and they themselves acquired an illegal firearm with no intention of committing a criminal act but only just to protect themselves. We say it's time to give it up and bring it in.

"We are only providing an opportunity for them to surrender the firearm because we believe if just one weapon is taken off the streets, that reduces the chances of it being used in criminality."

In 2011, then-Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, faced with increasing murders and gun violence in the country, announced a 30-day gun amnesty. Police said 75 guns and 4,777 rounds of ammunition were turned over.

Rahming said the two-week amnesty will be a part of Urban Renewal's "Say No to Guns" campaign, which will be done in collaboration with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and community groups.

"We will embark on a massive campaign through the length and breadth of The Bahamas," she said.

"Projected cost for this campaign is projected at $100,000.

"The campaign will feature radio and television ads, social, rallies at schools and community walkabouts. Residents are encouraged to join in.

"We can't just sit around and say we want it to stop and do nothing. We all have to do something."

There have been more than 50 murders for the year so far.

Police seized more than 160 guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunition for the year so far.

According to Rahming, more than 200 adults and 45 juveniles have been charged in 2023, so far, with gun-related offenses. The majority of suspects were men.

In his budget speech, which he did not read, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe touched on the issue of guns.

"Firearms contribute greatly to crime and the fear of crime," the speech read.

"The police continue to note that almost 100 percent of illegal firearms originate from the US and firearms purchased legally in the United States are appearing on our streets within days of the sale. Such firearms are the main weapon of choice in the majority of homicides in The Bahamas.

"Most notably, 90 percent of all the murders were committed with firearms, while 95 percent of all armed robberies involved a firearm. There has been great concern about the increase of illicit firearms in the region, considering that most countries don't manufacture them."

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