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Charlotte Amalie
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HomeNewsArchivesMORE GUNS TURNED IN TO POLICE ON ST. CROIX

MORE GUNS TURNED IN TO POLICE ON ST. CROIX

Aug. 2, 2001 – While the Police Department's recent illegal gun amnesty program netted 15 weapons in the St. Thomas-St. John district, it pulled in 55 on St. Croix.
The program ended at midnight Tuesday. St. Croix figures were not available Wednesday, when Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said 16 weapons had been in on St. Thomas. That figure was changed to 15 in a release Thursday from Sgt. Annette Raimer, police public relations officer.
Raimer declined to speculate Thursday on why so many more weapons were turned in voluntarily on St. Croix. She said most of them were "antiques or rusted handguns with serial numbers hard to identify." The St. Croix total consisted of 37 handguns and 18 rifles and shotguns, she said.
When the program was initiated on July 10, there was mention of a small reward for turning in unregistered guns. That same day, the V.I. Justice Department announced V.I. Project Exile, a get-tough program requiring that those convicted of a using a gun in committing a crime serve their sentence in an off-island prison. Raimer said Thursday that payment for the guns turned in will vary according to condition and appearance.
In another effort to reduce crimes involving guns in the territory, Sen. Emmett Hansen II sponsored legislation in July to strengthen penalties and fines for the illegal possession and use of firearms. The measure sets a minimum five-year term for illegal possession.

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