“No questions asked” Falklands firearms amnesty to begin
A “no questions asked” firearms amnesty will begin today in Stanley, Falkland Islands.
The amnesty period will last until September 3 and applies to all licensed and unlicensed guns and ammunition.
The Falkland Islands—an overseas territory of the United Kingdom—have the second highest number of civilian guns per capita in the world after the United States, with an estimated 62.1 guns per every 100 people. Ruined and abandoned weapons from the 1982 Argentine invasion still litter the landscape and weapons from the British military presence occasionally make their way into circulation on accident.
The amnesty will likely lower the number of guns per capita on the Islands even if it is only modestly successful due to the Islands’ low population. Further amnesties are likely in coming years as more Argentine weapons are uncovered and as British military weapons continue to enter circulation by mistake. Despite these amnesties, the continuing military presence on the Islands and lingering political tensions with Argentina will likely prevent a total disarming of the population.
