The New South Wales firearm amnesty is now in its final hours.

Police are urging people who are still in possession of an illegal firearm to hand it in before tomorrow, September 29.

The amnesty was introduced to highlight the Firearms Amendment (Traffic-king) Act, which came into force on July 1, 2001.

The Act introduces harsher penalties for the possession of illegal weapons.

Police have outlined some of the measures including:

• increasing the maximum penalty for the illegal possession of a pistol or prohibited firearm from 10 to 14 years,

• making it illegal to supply or take part in the supply of firearms to any person not authorised to use firearms (maximum penalty of 20 years in jail),

• and, making it illegal for a licensed firearm dealer to wilfully record false details in firearm transactions (maximum penalty of 14 years in jail).

The response in the Southern Highlands has been very good according to Bowral Police Sergeant John Stone.

“The first amnesty that we had after the change in gun laws weeded out a lot of illegal weapons, so the response to this amnesty was a little lower,” Sergeant Stone said.

“However, about 100 illegal weapons were handed in over the last three months, most of which have already been shipped to Sydney and destroyed.”

Sergeant Stone pointed out that most of the weapons handed in were those that people had forgotten about.

“There are plenty of weapons that are floating around in people’s sheds, roofs or garages that they simply forget about,” he said.

“Hopefully it is amnesties like this that encourage people to address these weapons.”

Sergeant Stone added that people could remain anonymous if they wished when handing in illegal weapons.

For more information, people can phone Bowral Police on 48 629 299.