Owing to firearms either being confiscated or simply handed in, the Guardia Civil, destroyed over 50,000 firearms last year.

In fact, since 2013, they have destroyed a staggering 430,000 firearms, most of which come from illicit arms ownership or gun running.

Of all the Spanish police forces, it falls to the Guardia Civil to carry out this task. It is also responsible for the Spanish compliance with the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (2001).

This treaty includes one special day of the year: International Gun Destruction Day on the 9th of July, when such firearms are destroyed all over the world… or at least in the signatory countries.

Finally, the Guardia Civil also holds arms auctions where confiscated firearms (shotguns and hunting rifles, mainly) are made available for purchase to firearm-licence holders.

These firearms normally come from confiscations from illegal arm possession or from people who no longer hold a licence, (advancing age or changes of circumstances) and hand them in.

(News: Spain)