Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik today announced that more than 3,000 guns taken off New York City streets will soon be turned into scrap metal. The New York Police Department recovered the guns over the last several months through a number of channels and the total includes guns that were used in the commission of crimes. The guns will be transported to an undisclosed location, where they will be smelted and the metal recycled. NYPD personnel will monitor every aspect of the entire process, until every gun has been destroyed.

"The Police Department's dramatic success in reducing crime is due in large part to its corresponding success in removing guns from City streets," the Mayor said. "More than 90,000 guns have been seized since 1994, and shootings have plummeted more than 74 percent. The NYPD's gun seizure success is also reflected in the murder rate, which has plummeted 65 percent since 1994, and is down another 11 percent this year over last year. The NYPD has also ensured that thousands of guns can never be used to commit a crime by destroying them and putting the metal to good use. Now, another 3,000 guns have been taken out of circulation -- permanently."

Police Commissioner Kerik said, "The destruction of these firearms is a very tangible reminder of the intensive efforts undertaken by the NYPD and the City to remove guns from our streets. Every gun taken out of circulation is one less gun that can be used to shoot an innocent citizen, gun down a hero cop, or carelessly end up in the hands of a child."

Including the guns to be destroyed following today's announcement, more than 7,371 guns will have been smelted this year to date. In 2000, the Police Department sent 8,278 guns to be smelted and turned into scrap metal.

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