The New York Police Department has confiscated over 3,000 firearms so far this year, a milestone that officials attribute to a successful precision-policing strategy aimed at reducing gun violence. This effort coincides with historic lows in shootings and murders throughout the city.
As of August, the NYPD had seized 3,259 guns, including 199 untraceable ghost guns. Brooklyn led the boroughs with 915 seizures, followed by the Bronx with 782, Manhattan with 764, Queens with 605, and Staten Island with 193. These seizures are a key component of the department's approach to tackling gun violence, which has resulted in the fewest murders in New York City history over the first seven months of the year.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the department's strategy focuses on deploying officers to areas and times where they are most needed, identifying the root causes of violence, and removing guns from the streets. She credited the officers and law enforcement partners, including the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership, for their work in building strong cases and ensuring accountability.
The reduction in gun violence is part of a broader trend. Through the end of July, there were 381 shootings reported across the five boroughs, a decrease from the 412 reported during the same period last year. The number of shooting victims also saw a decline, with 462 compared to 489 last year. Murders also reached a new low, with 149 recorded so far this year, down from 174 in the first seven months of 2025.
A new initiative that utilizes data to target areas with high rates of violent crime and gunplay has also been credited with contributing to the decline. Since the launch of the Summer Violence Reduction Plan on May 4, major crime in the city has dropped nearly 25% as of August 10.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez noted the significant drop in homicides and shootings in his borough, stating that recovering over 3,000 illegal guns is a crucial part of this success. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that every illegal gun removed from circulation can prevent a potential tragedy.