In a significant effort to combat gun violence, Mayor Eric Adams, along with the NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, announced the confiscation of over 2,200 illegal firearms from the streets of New York City since the beginning of 2025. This effort has been marked by a record decline in shootings and homicides in the metropolis. As reported by the Mayor's office, the reduction in gun violence showcases the results of a strategic enforcement and community safety plan enacted under Mayor Adams.
Since Adams took office, a total of 22,016 illegal guns have been seized—an increase of over 3,000 compared to the previous three-year span. Shootings have reduced by 53.9 percent, while homicides have seen a 41.4 percent decline, "helping lead to the lowest number of shootings and homicides year-to-date in recorded history," according to the Mayor's office. It is no surprise that during this National Gun Violence Awareness Month, New York City touts these impressive statistics as it honors victims of gun violence.
The results presented by the NYPD reflect the implementation of data-driven policing strategies. Commissioner Tisch outlined a summer violence reduction plan aimed at maintaining current security levels. The strategic deployment of police officers has coincided with a decrease in gun-related crimes. Shooting incidents in May 2025 decreased by 38.6 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, major crimes overall, including murders, declined, with murders falling by 45.5 percent, according to official reports.
Amid these successes, the city remains faced with the challenge posed by ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and are difficult to trace. The NYPD has confiscated nearly 1,500 ghost guns since the start of the Adams administration. These untraceable weapons have alarmingly found their way into the hands of criminals and minors. This escalating trend was highlighted by a significant jump in recovered ghost guns, surging from 17 in 2018 to 71 in just the first five months of 2025 alone.
Moving forward, Mayor Adams remains persistent in his combat against gun violence. The mayor's "Blueprint to End Gun Violence" and the "Blueprint for Community Safety" represent a combined effort between improved law enforcement and community initiatives, dedicating nearly $500 million towards creating safer neighborhoods, as noted in the press release. Complementarily, the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership, a multi-agency collaboration, has been instrumental in strengthening cases against severe gun offenders, reviewing over 700 cases in 2024 and ensuring legal follow-through for these crimes.
