Britain Urges Handgun Owners to Turn In Weapons Before Ban
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LONDON — The British government launched a campaign Sunday to encourage owners of small-caliber handguns to turn in their weapons before a near-total ban goes into effect next month.
The campaign to turn in weapons of .22 caliber and smaller follows last year’s surrender of weapons over .22 caliber, which netted 1,859 rifles and 4,442 handguns.
Britain adopted some of the world’s toughest gun laws after Thomas Hamilton walked into a school in Dunblane, Scotland, in 1996 and opened fire with four legally owned handguns.
Hamilton, who belonged to a local gun club, killed 16 kindergarten pupils and their teacher before taking his own life.
Weapons over .22 caliber were banned last year, and the ban on weapons of .22 caliber and below takes effect March 1.
Exceptions to the ban include pistols of antique and historical interest, starting pistols, and shot pistols with very small caliber charges that are used against rats, mice and other pests.
Gun owners who surrender their handguns to police by March 1 will receive compensation.
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