"Despite threats on my life because I am a business, but I was ready to give up my weapon to the authorities, but the government must protect me after I have given up my protection, and I hope that I become an example for others to follow," Amlak told KurdSat.

Amlak is the only citizen in the Kurdistan region to give up his weapon willingly. The spokesperson for the Sulaimani police department told KurdSat that "no one has brought their weapons in, but anyone who does will be given a receipt [of compensation] and his name registered."

"After council of minister's [ of the Kurdistan region] decision to ban weapons we have captured many weapons in our checkpoints," the spokesperson added.

Rekan Majeed, a Peshmerga, told KurdSat, "If there were a weapons depot, we would not have to take our weapons home." The Peshmerga forces do not possess weapons depo, and the Peshmerga troops take their weapons back home when they come back from duty and bring their guns into the cities and civilian areas in the Kurdistan region.

In the past month, 15 people were killed with weapons. In one incident, a former college student killed a college dean and professor with a firearm.

The security forces said they would continue their operations to seize illegal weapons to prevent unwanted incidents while ensuring that anyone who surrenders their gun will be given a receipt of compensation.

After a dramatic increase in crimes in the Kurdistan region, the prime minister of the Kurdistan region said that he had directed related ministries and agencies to seize unlicensed weapons and shut down gun stores.