Misuse of the word amnesty - handbag amnesty/book amnesty etc

[TotalChaos]

I get irritated when collections for 2nd hand books etc use the word amnesty - as surely amnesty implies there was something wrong in how you acquired the items in the first place. Or am I being humourless?

No you are not and I agree.

I've never heard it used in that context, only when there is an issue of some sort with the item the amnesty is for. So I've seen the library advertise an amnesty for overdue books and the police sometimes have a knife or gun amnesty.

what do you mean?

e.g. last year ELC had a collection of 2nd hand books in good condition to be redistributed to disadvantaged children. they called it a "book amnesty"