Flow of guns into state driving up Syracuse crime rate, mayor says

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said the ongoing proliferation of guns is contributing to a rise in the city’s violent crime rates in the first few months of the year. For example, he said there have been seven murders so far this year, compared to three at the same time last year.

But gun seizures are also up this year — Syracuse police removed 76 guns from the community compared to 55 at the same point last year, Walsh said at a news briefing Thursday. Still, the mayor said guns are flooding into New York and into the wrong hands.

“There are too many damn guns in this country. They're everywhere. And we have too many states that are abdicating their responsibility to ensure that guns are being sold safely,” Walsh said. “And our federal government is abdicating their responsibility to ensure that guns that are being handled safely.” 

Walsh said he is not calling for a total gun ban, but said more than 90% of guns recovered by local police are from out of state. He said an upcoming statewide firearm buyback event will help remove some of the threat, but the city is also taking proactive measures of its own.

The Police Athletic League, or Syracuse PAL, connects local law enforcement and young people over sports, and the city's summer youth employment program aims to provide engaging opportunities.

Officials are also launching the Syracuse Safer Streets plan, which focuses on at-risk youth using mediation, therapy, job training, and more to prevent gun violence. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens said they’re seeking best program proposals.

“Immediately upon receiving these applications, we'll pull together a committee to review the applicants to see which ones can help us in addressing the components that we've identified, and move forward to identify contractors so that we can get these folks on the ground," she said.

The goal is to make selections by June. Proposals are due Mat 18.