Australians turn in 51,000 unregistered guns during national gun amnesty program
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The program was the country's first since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which Martin Bryant killed 35 people, triggering a nationwide increase on gun control laws.
Getting caught with an unregistered firearm can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years in prison and a fine of up to $280,000.
"Every single one of those 51,000 guns could have been used in a crime where Australians could be killed," said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, according to the Guardian. "Now they can't. They've been collected and they will now be destroyed."
After the approximately 51,000 guns handed into the government, Australian officials estimate there are still 260,000 unregistered guns in the country. ■