Big Apple officials made a powerful statement on Thursday by destroying nearly 3,600 illegal guns in a wood-chipper-like machine, with the intention of using the scraps to weld a memorial to victims of gun violence. The event took place in Westbury, just days after an innocent grandmother was tragically killed by stray gunfire in Harlem.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the importance of destroying these guns, not only for removing weapons of destruction and chaos from the streets but also for the symbolic message it sends. The mayor expressed his commitment to never surrendering to violence and the need to do more to address the ongoing issue of gun violence in the city.
The event was a somber reminder of the recent shooting of Excenia Mette, a 61-year-old innocent bystander who lost her life to gun violence. Adams spoke about the impact of gun violence on families and communities, highlighting the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved.
The guns that were destroyed represent only a fraction of the more than 21,400 guns seized during the Adams administration. Amongst these, over 1,400 were identified as ghost guns, unserialized and untraceable weapons that pose a significant threat. The number of ghost guns recovered in the city has been steadily increasing since 2018, with a sharp rise in recent years.
In an effort to memorialize the victims of gun violence, the scraps from the destroyed guns will be donated to the School of Cooperative Technical Education in East Harlem. Students in the welding vocational program will use the metal to create a memorial honoring those lost to gun violence, turning the destruction of weapons into a meaningful tribute.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the impact of these guns on communities, stating that they have instilled fear, inflicted pain, and destroyed lives. The act of destroying the guns in the industrial metal shredder serves as a powerful visual representation of the city’s commitment to addressing gun violence.
As the guns were fed into the shredder, families of those lost to gun violence were invited to call out their loved ones’ names, creating a poignant moment of remembrance. Mayor Adams reiterated the importance of choosing to stand on the side of innocent people, advocating for stronger measures to protect communities from gun violence.
Overall, the event was a solemn yet impactful demonstration of the city’s dedication to addressing gun violence and honoring the memory of those lost to senseless acts of violence.
