“They belonged to my father and I didn’t know what to do with them,” Lionel said at a police station in Nice, southern France. “I don’t really like guns, and since there is a way to get rid of them cleanly, you have a moment to get rid of such souvenirs.”
Rifles, handguns, ammunition, even knives and grenades have been handed over at 300 collection points across France since the start of the interior ministry’s campaign on 25 November.
Those who bring weapons do not face any punishment. They can either get them registered or leave them with the police.
As of Wednesday, 65,000 firearms had been turned in, along with 1.6 million rounds of ammunition and other projectiles.