A total of 262 firearms and firearm related items were handed in during the three month campaign that ran from July 1 to September 30 this year. 

The region was one of nine areas outside of the Sydney metropolitan area to feature in the top ten.

The Mid North Coast ranked eighth on the list with 252 surrendered items. 

NSW Police Force regional field operations deputy commissioner Gary Worboys said the response to the amnesty has been overwhelming, particularly in regional areas.

“It’s extremely encouraging to see community members recognising the danger posed by these weapons and doing the right thing by handing them in or having them registered,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said. 

“There has been a really strong response across the state which means there are now fewer unwanted or unregistered guns on our streets.”

Nearly 10,000 firearms and firearm related items have been surrendered to police and dealers across NSW, including 602 handguns and 1575 shotguns.

Other firearms related items handed in over the period included 14 crossbows, 27 suppressors, samurai swords, knives and other edged weapons. 

Metropolitan field operations deputy commissioner Jeff Loy said gun crime affects all Australians.

“In the wrong-hands, guns are a lethal weapon so it’s pleasing to see people are keen to do the right thing and have used the opportunity to dispose of firearms and other weapons to ensure they don’t end up in the wrong hands,” Deputy Commissioner Loy said. 

According to toomanyguns.org, the area (stretching from Coopernook to Bulahdelah) is home to approximately 72,269 people, 2846 of which are registered firearm owners.

That equates to 3.93 percent of people in the community who own firearms.

These people own a combine 12,019 registered firearms or an average of 4.2 each. 

One firearms owner in postcode 2429 owns 145 guns.

This is tied for the 17^th most owned by an individual in NSW.