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My office works every day to prevent gun violence and to stop the manufacture of ghost guns -- unregulated and untraceable firearms often made at home that have increasingly been found at crime scenes.
We recently filed an amicus brief in a legal case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Garland v. VanDerStok, in support of federal regulations mandating that ghost gun parts possess serial numbers and imposing background checks for those who buy such parts.
This shift from the traditional "Iron Pipeline" to the more elusive "Polymer Pipeline" of ghost guns must be addressed promptly and decisively to prevent the unregulated manufacture of untraceable weapons from ending up in the wrong hands.
Since I established the Crime Strategies and Intelligence Unit in 2021, we have led the city in the recovery of ghost guns.
In that time, our efforts have resulted in 45 defendants charged, over 70 search warrants executed and 398 illegal firearms recovered.
Thus far in 2024, Queens is leading New York City with 58% of the 209 total ghost guns recovered citywide.
While we will continue to rid the streets of illegal weapons, federal regulations of these firearms are essential to our fight against gun violence.
My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe.
In Friendship,
Melinda Katz
Queens District Attorney
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