NYPD Seizes Over 250 Illegal Guns in Historic Bust

The NYPD seized over 250 illegal firearms in the past year and took down two major gun trafficking operations that shipped weapons into the city. Mayor Bloomberg and city officials said it was the largest gun bust in New York City’s history.

An undercover officer purchased over $160,000 worth of guns during his investigation. The purchases included high capacity assault weapons and a fully automatic machine gun.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg also credited court sanctioned wire taps, stop-question-and-frisk methods, and the state’s tough gun laws in the historic gun bust.

Bloomberg said the controversial stop-and-frisk method is effective in discouraging people from carrying illegal guns.

“Common sense says if you run a risk of getting stopped,” the mayor said, “you're gonna pay more attention to what's in your pocket.”

The NYPD found that 90% of guns used in crimes in New York City come from out of state.

John Feinblatt, the city’s Criminal Justice Coordinator, said lax gun laws in other states are a threat to the safety of New Yorkers.

“Unfortunately North Carolina and South Carolina, which each send more crime guns to New York City than come from New York State itself,” Feinblatt said, “lack many of the basic laws that would help stop the epidemic of gun trafficking.”