Miscellaneous – Justice | Undeclared weapons: in Marseille, more than a thousand guns and pistols collected
It is sometimes a collector’s item but more often a cumbersome heirloom, more or less forgotten in the basement or attic. Grandfather’s rifle, the .22LR of the younger years and the great-great-aunt’s revolver… remain firearms and they are not only charged with emotion. But many escape all control, and in any case, all traceability.
State services have estimated that there were nearly 5 million undeclared pistols, rifles and other rifles in France. And potentially as many problems awaiting their time, thanks to a handling accident, an argument or even a theft.
Also, in the wake of a reform of the Weapons Information System (SIA), generated last year, a national and unprecedented initiative was introduced on November 25, until December 2, to allow individuals to surrender their undeclared weapons following a simplified procedureat collection points, police stations and gendarmerie brigades.
In Marseille, no one came to drop off their Glock or Kalashnikov, but the collection never bore fruit: no less than 642 rifles and carbines – often hunting weapons – were collected (for a total of 2,000 long weapons in the department), but also 464 pistols (nearly half of the handguns handed over in the Bouches-du-Rhône), as well as 16,800 ammunition.
Unless there is a particular interest, and in particular a historical one, these weapons will then be destroyed by the State services.