'Significant Uptick' Of Guns In New Haven, Especially Ghost Guns: PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — In 2021, during 129 arrests, New Haven police seized 129 guns. Four of those guns were what is known as ghost guns, firearms often made from kits and without serial numbers which makes them difficult, if not impossible, to trace.

So far, in 2022, police said this week, 166 guns have been seized. And of those, 35 are ghost guns.

Police Chief Karl Jacobson said that while the number of guns taken off the street is good news, it also means there are lots of guns out there.

"This is a significant uptick of guns," he said. "We're doing great work getting guns off the street, but unfortunately, there are a lot more."

Jacobson said that the data shows "guns are more accessible to the wrong people, to younger people, to people that are going to use them to do shootings." Especially ghost guns.

In 2021, there were 72 non-fatal shootings and 18 homicides in the city. So far in 2022, with four moths left in the year, there have been 75 non-fatal shootings and seven homicides. "Far too high, " the police chief said. "We definitely have the lowest number in the state. Although we're not pleased with the numbers, we're excited about the work being done."

Jacobson said police are working with state and federal law enforcement partners to get more guns off the streets, but noted that work is "extremely difficult."

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker also pointed to the "proliferation of guns, especially ghost guns," on city streets as being a major concern.

The Justice Department takes action

In April, the Justice Department announced it was working to modernize the definition of a firearm to "clarify that parts kits that are readily convertible to firearms are subject to the same regulations as traditional firearms. "

"These regulatory updates will help curb the proliferation of ghost guns," Justice said in a news release.

From January 2016 to December 2021, the ATF got some 45,000 reports of "suspected privately made firearms" recovered by law enforcement, including in 692 homicide or attempted homicide investigations.

The new rule submitted to the ATF amends the definitions of firearm to include providing definitions of terms like a “privately made firearm.”

The new rule goes into effect Aug. 24.

Watch the full police briefing here.