Vietnam: Xơ Đăng Community Trades Homemade Guns for Essential Goods

In the Tu Mơ Rông commune of Quảng Ngãi province, Vietnam, members of the Xơ Đăng ethnic minority have voluntarily handed over 15 homemade firearms as part of a community program. The initiative, organized by the Tu Mơ Rông Commune Police in collaboration with the Commune Youth Union and the Quảng Ngãi Provincial Police's Department of Administrative Security, offered essential household goods in exchange for the surrendered weapons. This effort aims to encourage residents to turn in unregistered firearms and other weapons kept in their homes.

According to local residents, many Xơ Đăng households previously crafted these homemade guns for hunting and protecting their crops and livestock in remote farming areas. However, these weapons have largely fallen into disuse in recent years. Following extensive awareness campaigns by law enforcement, the community members have come to understand that possessing homemade firearms is illegal. This realization has prompted their proactive decision to surrender the weapons, contributing to local security and order.

Upon receiving the surrendered firearms, the Tu Mơ Rông Commune Police commended the residents for their voluntary compliance with the law. Each individual who surrendered a weapon received a gift package valued at 300,000 Vietnamese dong, including rice, fish sauce, salt, milk, and cooking oil. The police also used the occasion to educate the community on laws governing firearms, explosives, and support tools, alongside methods for preventing and combating crime in the area.

Thiếu tá Nguyễn Văn Hạnh, the Head of Tu Mơ Rông Commune Police, emphasized that the program extends beyond merely collecting illegal weapons. He stated that it significantly raises awareness about the dangers and consequences associated with possessing and using unlicensed firearms. "Every gun voluntarily surrendered by the people is one less safety risk eliminated. We aspire to build a safe and peaceful living environment with our community, contributing to maintaining security and order right from the village level," Hạnh added, underscoring the program's commitment to fostering local safety.

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