Weapons Amnesty 2026: Nearly 6,000 Weapons Handed In Across the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the 2026 weapons amnesty has come to an end. Over the course of six months, members of the public handed almost 6,000 weapons, as well as large quantities of ammunition and explosives, to the police.

The sixth weapons amnesty in the Czech Republic concluded on 30 June 2026. Between 1 January and 30 June 2026, members of the public were able to hand in illegally possessed or unexpectedly discovered weapons, ammunition and explosives to the police without facing prosecution. In total, 5,918 weapons were handed in nationwide.

The weapons amnesty was introduced as part of the extensive amendment to the Firearms and Ammunition Act, which came into force on 1 January 2026. Similar amnesties had previously been held in the Czech Republic in 1996, 2003, 2009, 2014 and 2021.

Foto: Policie České republiky

The scheme was aimed primarily at people who unexpectedly discovered weapons or essential firearm components during home renovations, property clearances or while dealing with inherited estates. During the amnesty, they were able to hand them over to the police without fear of prosecution for illegal possession of firearms. In certain cases, it was also possible to apply to retain legal ownership of the weapon at a later stage.

Second Most Successful Weapons Amnesty in the Country's History

After being handed in, the weapons were professionally examined by the police. They were checked to determine whether they had been linked to any criminal offence or were listed as wanted. So far, none of the surrendered weapons has been found to be connected to a crime. However, investigations are still ongoing in relation to 68 weapons, particularly those originating from abroad.

Foto: Policie České republiky

Although the 2026 weapons amnesty did not set a new record, it ranks among the most successful amnesties in the Czech Republic, according to the police. With 5,918 weapons handed in, it was the second most successful operation of its kind. In addition, 213,448 rounds of ammunition, 2,648 other ammunition-related items and 64,357 grams of explosives were surrendered.

The highest number of weapons was handed in in the Central Bohemian Region (Středočeský kraj), where police registered 1,032 items. This was followed by Prague with 765 weapons, the South Moravian Region (Jihomoravský kraj) with 527 weapons, and the South Bohemian Region (Jihočeský kraj) with 507 weapons. The lowest number was reported in the Karlovy Vary Region, with 125 weapons.

Several Historic and Rare Weapons Among the Items Handed In

Among the surrendered weapons were several historic and rare items. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, police received, among other things, a Kolibri pistol chambered in 2.7 mm, regarded as the smallest mass-produced semi-automatic pistol in the world. Also handed in was a vz. 27 pistol with an extended barrel and its original suppressor.

Foto: Policie České republiky

Other notable finds included a Czechoslovak 47 mm fortress gun, an 81 mm M 32 fortress mortar, a rare Volkssturm VG-45 carbine, and a German Vollmer-Erma EMP submachine gun. In the Zlín Region, police also received, among other items, a STEN Mk II and a Steyr 1912 military pistol.

Police have pointed out that some investigations have not yet been completed. As a result, the final results of the 2026 weapons amnesty may still change in some respects.