By USA Daily Now 
New York City Mayor ERIC ADAMS and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner JESSICA S. TISCH announced the destruction of 3,375 illegal handguns and 200 rifles on Thursday, marking a significant step in the city’s ongoing efforts to combat gun violence. The firearms, which were among the more than 21,400 seized since Mayor Adams took office, were fed into an industrial shredder to be recycled into scrap metal.
“Today, we say goodbye and good riddance to thousands of illegal guns that no longer threaten the safety of our neighborhoods, our families, or our children,” Mayor Adams declared during a press conference. “These guns will never be used again to endanger another child, terrify another New Yorker, or destroy another life. While today’s action is a critical step, we know there is more work to be done. We will continue to push for more officers, more safety, and more results to ensure New York City remains the safest big city in America.”
As the firearms were destroyed, Mayor Adams invited families affected by gun violence to honor their loved ones by calling out their names. NYPD Commissioner JESSICA TISCH emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “These guns have no place in our neighborhoods. They stoked fear, inflicted pain, and destroyed lives. They belong right here, in the tear box of an industrial metal shredder.”
The recycled material from the firearms will be donated to the School of Cooperative Technical Education (Coop Tech), where students will weld it into a memorial dedicated to victims of gun violence and their families.
According to an official statement from Mayor Adams, over 1,400 of the seized firearms were identified as “ghost guns”—unserialized and untraceable weapons often produced using 3D printers. These firearms frequently end up in the hands of criminals and underage purchasers. Since 2018, the NYPD has recovered nearly 2,000 ghost guns.
Mayor Adams has prioritized gun violence prevention since taking office, releasing the *Blueprint to End Gun Violence* in his first month. In March 2022, the NYPD launched its Neighborhood Safety Teams to focus on reducing gun violence in high-risk areas. “From day one, this administration has mounted an all-out effort to reduce gun violence,” Adams said. “From our gun violence prevention task force to our neighborhood safety teams, we’ve testified before Congress, urged the Supreme Court to uphold gun safety laws, and sued the makers and marketers of ghost guns.”
This initiative underscores New York City’s commitment to eradicating illegal firearms and ensuring public safety.
**Sources:**
[NYC Mayor’s Office](https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/)
[NYPD Official Website](https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/index.page)