In a statement, the Social Democratic Party said that the destruction of 8,200 guns took place on the celebration of the International Gun Destruction Day, 9 July.

"On this day, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organisations and governments on a global scale, carry out similar actions of gun destruction, following the idea that “each gun destroyed can no longer be used to kill, hurt or intimidate” and to alert civil society of the need for gun control by authorities,” the party said.

The 8,200 guns that were destroyed have been declared lost in favour of the state in the context of criminal proceedings or administrative proceedings after they have been seized by the PSP police force and the other police authorities.

According to police data, between 2014 and 2019, 160,508 guns were destroyed. In 2019 alone, more than 21,000 guns have been destroyed.