China has launched a crackdown on gun crimes to ensure social stability, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday in an online statement.

The campaign, which started March 20 and will end Oct. 31, includes confiscating illegal weapons, preventing gun crimes and supervising the use of guns.

The ministry urged public security departments to confiscate illegally traded guns "and seize groups or individuals illegally making guns."

The statement said the ministry hoped the campaign would "significantly reduce" crimes related to illegal guns and ensure that no "severe" cases occurred.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2009)