Kenya Burns 5,250 Illegal Weapons

Imagine a huge pile of guns blazing in a massive bonfire.

Kenya Burns 5,250 Illegal Weapons

Imagine a huge pile of guns blazing in a massive bonfire. This is what Kenyans experienced recently. Fox News reported that three stacks of guns about 15 feet high were burned.

Obtaining a gun license is difficult in Kenya. After completing an application, interviews and background checks are required. These interviews are a lot like interrogation sessions. Background checks reveal just about everything having to do with the applicant. The reason for the stringent licensing requirements is that incidents of violence are high in the country, particularly by extremists.

Kenya’s borders are constantly being compromised, and weapons are smuggled into the country at a rate of thousands a day. It’s estimated that approximately 500,000 guns are illegally held by civilians.

The burning of illegal guns collected over the years is simply for awareness. By showing how many guns were illegally confiscated, Kenyan authorities hope many of those who are thinking about getting them will decide against it. While it may be hard to get through to the extremists, it may be possible to convince those who simply want to carry guns for personal safety or to commit minor crimes.

Photo caption: A pile of 5,250 illegal weapons are burned by Kenyan police in Ngong, near Nairobi, in Kenya Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The weapons consisted of both confiscated and surrendered firearms that had been stockpiled over almost a decade and were destroyed by police as a message to the public to surrender others. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)  (The Associated Press)