Fewer Guns Obviously Seized in NYC Since Stop-And-Frisk Ruling

Murders and shootings are still declining.

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The New York Post reports that gun seizures in New York City have declined since the NYPD's stop-and-frisk initiative was declared uncostitutional. According to the Post, 634 guns were collected between Aug. 19 (the first full week since Judge Shira A. Shciendlin's ruling) and Nov. 3. That's a 12 percent drop from the 723 taken by the same point last year. 

The Post adds that the number of shootings had increased by 2.3 percent, while the number of victims increased by 3.4 percent. 

A police source told the Post that the numbers are a direct result of Schiendlin's ruling. "Of course, [Scheindlin’s] ruling is responsible for this," the source said, adding the decision "has made a lot of officers gun-shy about getting guns off the street" due to fear of being sued. 

Despite this rise in gun seizures, the number of stops from July through September were down by 50 percent over the same period in 2012, which suggests police were already curbing their use of stop-and-frisk. The Post notes that the frequency of stops had already been decreasing by the month.

Also keep in mind that violent crime such as murders and shootings have dropped dramatically in the city this year, with homicides on pace to reach a record-low and shootings down by nearly 22 percent. 

[via New York Post]

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