In a stunning display of law enforcement effectiveness, the NYPD has already seized over 1,000 illegal firearms from New York City streets in just the first two months of 2025. This milestone comes as part of Mayor Adams’ aggressive strategy to combat gun violence in the nation’s largest city.
At a glance:
• NYPD has confiscated more than 1,000 illegal guns since January 2025
• Among the seizures were 40 untraceable “ghost guns”
• Homicides in NYC have decreased by 22.7% over the last three years
• Shootings have dropped by 42.2% during the same period
• 74% of crime guns in New York originate from out-of-state sources
Record-Breaking Gun Seizures Continue
The NYPD’s successful removal of over 1,000 illegal firearms in early 2025 builds upon an impressive track record established during Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. Since taking office, Adams’ administration has overseen the confiscation of more than 20,000 illegal guns from city streets.
These efforts represent a significant increase compared to previous years, with 3,000 more guns removed between 2022 and 2024 than during the prior three-year period. The aggressive approach to illegal firearms has coincided with historic drops in violent crime throughout the city.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the importance of these seizures during a recent press conference alongside Mayor Adams. “Each gun we take off the streets is one less tragedy waiting to happen,” Tisch stated.
Growing Threat of Ghost Guns
Among the 1,000+ firearms seized this year, officials identified 40 as untraceable “ghost guns” – a growing concern for law enforcement nationwide. These weapons, which can be assembled from parts purchased online or created using 3D printers, lack serial numbers and are virtually impossible to track.
The recovery of ghost guns has increased dramatically in recent years, from just 17 confiscated in 2018 to 40 already in the first two months of 2025. Of the 20,000 illegal firearms seized during Mayor Adams’ administration, more than 1,400 have been identified as ghost guns.
While Democrats continue pushing for more gun control measures affecting law-abiding citizens, criminals – including illegal aliens – are increasingly turning to these untraceable weapons that bypass existing regulations.
The Iron Pipeline and Out-of-State Weapons
Data from the New York State Office of the Attorney General reveals that 74% of crime guns recovered in New York originated from out-of-state sources. Many of these weapons are trafficked along what officials call the “Iron Pipeline” – Interstate 95, which connects southern states with less restrictive gun laws to northeastern cities.
Despite New York having some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, criminals consistently circumvent these regulations by importing firearms from states with more constitutional approaches to Second Amendment rights.
Mayor Adams has taken a more practical approach than his progressive predecessors, focusing on removing illegal weapons rather than further restricting legal gun ownership. “When others wanted to defund the police, I defended them, because fighting for your safety is what you elected me to do,” Adams wrote in a recent op-ed.
The results speak for themselves, with homicides down 22.7% and shootings decreased by 42.2% over the last three years.
