In South Africa 20,000 people were murdered during 2004. In an attempt to curb the nations high crime rate, the government has started an amnesty for gun owners.
During the next three months owners of illegal weapons can turn them in to police stations and not face prosecution. A person found to have an illegal firearm would normally face 15 years jail.
The weapons will be submitted to forensic tests however, in an attempt to see if it has been used in a crime, if a link is established the amnesty will not be given to its owner.
