Residents need not fear repercussions for possessing illegal weapons as long as they have not been used in criminal activity, police said.

Dietrich said the amnesty program is directed at the general public to reduce the number of prohibited weapons and give people an opportunity to dispose of them safely. It also educates people regarding permits, storage and disposal of firearms.

Residents who call police will be asked for their personal information and will need to sign a waiver to have the firearms removed from their home, Dietrich said.

Sgt. Andy Harrington said a similar month-long program in Hamilton last spring collected 300 firearms. He hopes for the same success in Waterloo Region.

"We are focusing on prohibited weapons. We come across them almost on a routine basis," said Harrington, supervising officer for the guns and gang unit.

Police are also appealing to people who might have some prohibited weapons on display in their home. The mere display is a criminal offence, Harrington said.

Some of the weapons that could be displayed are Shuriken, a traditional Japanese weapon used to throwing, stabbing or slashing.

"Movies popularize these devices and people go out looking for them," Dietrich said.

A pellet gun that can be purchased at stores such as Canadian Tire or K-W Surplus isn't prohibited but often used in robberies and "it can be difficult to tell the difference," Harrington said.

"These weapons are readily available and used in crimes," Dietrich added.

lmonteiro@therecord.com , Twitter: @MonteiroRecord