Mayor Eric Adams has announced a major milestone in the city’s fight against gun violence, revealing that more than 20,000 illegal firearms have been seized since the beginning of his administration. The effort, which focuses on removing deadly weapons from the streets, underscores the city’s commitment to public safety.

“Our administration has taken more than 20,000 ILLEGAL GUNS off our streets since the start of the administration,” Adams stated in a recent announcement. “Over the last three years, we have focused on making our streets safer by seizing deadly firearms. Thanks to the NYPD and all our partnerships, we have made our city SAFER for everyone.”

Among the weapons seized, more than 1,400 have been identified as untraceable “ghost guns,” which are assembled from parts and lack serial numbers, making them difficult to track. Mayor Adams highlighted the city’s targeted efforts to curb the influx of these dangerous firearms.

“Of the 20,000 guns seized, more than 1,400 of them have been identified as untraceable ‘ghost guns’ that are far too easy to obtain and assemble,” he said. “We have been heavily focused on this deadly stream of illegal weapons into our city and taken action to stop companies promulgating ghost guns.”

The crackdown on ghost guns has involved legislative advocacy, enhanced police operations, and partnerships with federal agencies to dismantle the supply chains bringing these weapons into the city.

Adams emphasized that the work is far from over, vowing to intensify efforts to make New York City the safest place to raise a family.

“We’ll now go even further to ensure our city is the SAFEST place to raise a family,” he pledged. “Fewer guns. More investments in communities. More outreach to young people. More good jobs for everyone.”

The mayor’s strategy combines aggressive law enforcement measures with community investment, aiming to address the root causes of gun violence.

The removal of such a staggering number of illegal firearms has drawn praise from city officials and community leaders. Advocates for gun control see this milestone as a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated action between law enforcement and local stakeholders.

“This is a significant achievement, but it’s also a call to action,” said a city council member who praised the administration’s focus on community outreach and economic opportunities. “We need to ensure this momentum leads to lasting change.”