TORONTO, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Toronto police began giving away vouchers for free digital cameras and photography lessons Wednesday in exchange for guns as a new amnesty program began.
The month-long program is aimed at reducing the number of weapons in the city although it isn't completely free of consequences, the Toronto Star reported.
All guns picked up by police will undergo forensic testing to see if they have been involved in any crimes. Those that haven't will be destroyed, police said.
The 26-store Henry's camera chain, based in Toronto, is giving away $190 Nikon Coolpix S52 cameras for smaller weapons and $230 Coolpix P60 for larger ones, the report said.
The store issued an appeal not to bring guns to its stores, but rather contact police to arrange for a safe pickup, the Star said.
Police said the offer is only open to city residents, which disappointed John Hope of Bracebridge, two hours north of Toronto. He told the Star he wanted to get rid of his 9 mm Beretta, and will now just throw it into a 200-foot deep lake instead of traveling to Toronto.
