New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday said the New York City Police Department removed over 20,000 illegal firearms from city streets since 2022, an increase of approximately 3,000 more guns compared to the previous three years.
The 20,000 guns removed since 2022 include over 1,400 ghost guns, untraceable firearms assembled from kits or parts often purchased online or 3D-printed, according to a press release. These weapons have become an escalating concern, with recoveries increasing yearly from 17 ghost guns in 2018, 48 in 2019, 150 in 2020, 263 in 2021, 585 in 2022, 394 in 2023 and 438 in 2024.
The Adams administration credits its focus on public safety for the declines in violent crime. Since 2022, homicides have dropped by 22.7%, and shooting incidents have decreased by 42.2%. In 2024, the city recorded its fourth-lowest number of shooting incidents since the NYPD’s CompStat system began tracking crime data in 1993, according to a press release.
“The North Star of our administration has been safer streets, safer subways, and a safer city for New York families. And that means taking on the issue of gun violence," said Adams.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch commended the NYPD's efforts to ensuring the safety of New Yorkers on the streets and subways.
"Every single gun we seize is a potential life saved and tragedy averted, and we will continue our efforts to crack down on illegal trafficking and protect New Yorkers from this violence," the commissioner said.
While progress has been made, challenges remain, including legislative reforms to discovery laws have complicated prosecutions, leading to an increase in case dismissals. In 2023, 51% of non-violent felony cases were dismissed, up from 32% prior to the reforms.
