People with information about gun crime are being reminded they can pass it to police anonymously.
Today is the start of Crimestoppers week and the charity is running a national campaign to encourage witnesses to use its 0800 555111 number.
Isabel Cross, of Essex Crimestoppers, said replica guns, BB guns and air rifles were more of an issue in this county than real guns.
She urged people with information about their misuse to report it through the anonymous phone line.
She added that Crimestoppers was still running two campaigns urging people to come forward with information about cold cases and drugs crimes.
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Gun crime is not a major problem in Essex."
She said realistic replica guns were more of a problem than real ones because it was hard for firearms officers to tell the difference, putting lives at risk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article