Significant progress is being made in the fight against gun violence in the City of Buffalo.
That announcement on Friday from Governor Kathy Hochul, who said data reported by the City’s Police Department for the first half of 2023 when compared to the same timeframe in 2021 showed a 73 percent decline in the number of firearm-involved homicides; 60 percent decline in those injured by gunfire; and a 59 percent decline in shooting incidents. Buffalo’s reductions in gun violence during the first six months of this year led the 20 police departments that participate in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative and builds upon double-digit decreases in shooting incidents with injuries and individuals shot in 2022. Governor Hochul also announced $2 million in new state funding for community-based organizations in Buffalo, one of seven cities participating in a new program designed to strengthen neighborhoods affected by gun violence.
“From law enforcement officers to elected officials, ensuring public safety is a responsibility that falls on each of us,” Governor Hochul said. “We have made record-level investments to address the scourge of gun violence affecting our communities, and we’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in Buffalo and across our state – but there’s more work to be done. We won’t rest until gun violence is an afterthought and every New Yorker can live in the safe, peaceful community they deserve.”
Governor Hochul on Friday visited the Buffalo Police Department, where she outlined the city’s progress in fighting gun violence, as well as investments and actions she has taken to address the pandemic-era spike, including the creation of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns. Last year, the Buffalo Police seized the most guns since 2010: 956 guns, including 76 ghost guns. At the same time, police agencies across the state seized 10,427 illegal guns, a 65 percent increase when compared to 2019 (6,338 guns) and a 15 percent increase when compared to 2021 (9,088 guns).
In Buffalo, there were 29 fewer individuals killed (11 vs. 40); 111 fewer persons shot (73 vs. 184); and 90 fewer shooting incidents with injury (63 vs. 153) during the first half of 2023 as compared to the first half of 2021, when pandemic-era gun violence peaked. These three key gun violence metrics in the city have been trending below the five-year average (2018 – 2022) since January 2023. Total homicides were down 62 percent in Buffalo from January 2023 – June 2023 when compared to the same period last year.
