The government has announced the launch of a new gun amnesty initiative, giving individuals in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender them without penalty throughout the month of April.

The amnesty, which begins Monday and runs through April 30, was approved by Cabinet in response to a recent surge in illegal gun seizures and related arrests.

According to Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst, several individuals have already been brought before the courts and sentenced to up to two years in prison under the country’s updated firearms laws.

“This is yet another opportunity for people to hand over unlawful firearms,” Hurst said at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing. “There’s now a mandatory jail sentence for those found in possession. So we urge individuals to do the right thing and turn them in.”

This marks the fourth or fifth gun amnesty held under the Gaston Browne administration since 2014. While previous rounds have not resulted in large numbers of weapons being surrendered—fewer than 10 in some cases—officials maintain that every firearm removed from the streets is a step toward reducing violent crime.

Firearms can be surrendered anonymously at the police headquarters without fear of prosecution.

Hurst emphasized that even one gun handed in could save a life, and reiterated that the goal is to create safer communities.

Authorities continue to warn against the smuggling and sale of illegal firearms, which they say remains a serious threat to public safety. The amnesty is being paired with stronger law enforcement efforts and stricter penalties for offenders.

“We hope this measure will be seen as a final chance for individuals to avoid jail,” Hurst said. “This is about making Antigua and Barbuda safer for everyone.”