When Ward 3 councillor Matthew Green read the news release that detailed the Hamilton Police Service’s gun amnesty program, he was bittersweet about the idea.

While supportive of the initiative, he was disturbed that the Hamilton Police Service would introduce the program without help from the city considering councillors had approved in a unanimous May vote that the Hamilton Police and city work together to examine a gun buyback and amnesty program together.

“I’m concerned that the police are not respecting the motion from council,” he said.

On Sept. 23 Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire announced a six-week gun amnesty program for residents across the city. The program comes in the wake of two shootings last weekend capping a summer where there were gun battles in the downtown area. In August an 18-year-old was shot dead in the north end.

Hamilton Police have held gun amnesty programs before. In 2006, 1,200 firearms were handed over to the police, while in 2014, 374 guns and 19,000 rounds of ammunition were collected by officers.

The program has collected in the past registered and unregistered rifles, shotguns, hand guns and ammunition. In addition, police have received replica pellet guns and antique firearms.

Green said during the Sept. 23 council meeting that he was “concerned” that council’s motion for a buyback program hasn’t been reviewed by the Hamilton Police Services Board. A city clerk said the unanimous motion was sent to the chief June 2.

Green had proposed the $50 per firearm gun buyback program to encourage people to turn in their weapons. He said Toronto used the program to collect about 2,000 guns. He proposed a $50,000 budget.

Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson, who is also chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board, said there could be “lots of explanations” for the board and chief not responding to the motion.

“I will talk to the chief,” said Ferguson.