Winnipeggers exchanged 1,700 guns for cameras

Winnipeg police saythe Pixels for Pistols program was a big success, with about 1,700 guns surrendered within a month.

The program, which ran through the month of November,invited Winnipeggers to turn in their unwanted firearmsin exchange for a Panasonic digital point-and-shoot camera and/or a gift card from Henry's Photo.

In all, more than 1,700 firearms and 13,000 rounds of ammunition were surrendered, police announced Tuesday.

"Pixels for Pistols has been the most successful voluntary firearms collection program in the City of Winnipeg's history," Mayor Sam Katz stated in a release.

A gun amnesty program from two years ago netted just under 200 firearms.

The Pixels for Pistols program was a partnership between city police, Henry's Photo and Panasonic.

Gun owners called policeto arrange a time when officers could pickup their unwanted firearms, which included rifles and handguns. The gunswere not to be dropped off at police headquarters or at any Henry's stores.

Police say the fact that 1,700 firearms have been surrendered to police means those weapons won't end up in the hands of criminals.