Report: Over half of the guns used in crimes in Rochester came from outside state

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A much-anticipated report found that 57% of guns used in crimes in Rochester between 2012 and 2022 came from out-of-state.

That’s one of the findings of the study on gun trace data released on Friday. The city commissioned the study in 2021 to use the serial numbers of confiscated guns to learn where guns were made, sold, re-sold, stolen, or used in previous crimes. Mayor Malik Evans spoke about the findings and you can watch his full press conference in this story.

News10NBC has investigated the flow of guns into the city and previously spoke to pastors and City Council members who anticipated the release of the report.

The report found that 1,600 guns used in crimes, about 25% of those analyzed, came from just 30 dealers. While most guns come from out-of-state, 53% of the top 30 dealers were based in Monroe County including the suburbs. Meanwhile, 34% of dealers were out-of-state and 13% were in other counties in New York.

“The pipeline of guns flowing into our city does not begin in Rochester but the people of Rochester are paying the price,” Evans said.

The report also found that:

• Dealers with the most traces tend to be independent businesses, but chain stores are also significant sources of crime guns
• Crime guns circulate long after their dealers go out of business
• Ghost guns are on the rise

Evans said the report will guide city’s efforts to stop the flow of illegal guns. The nonpartisan organization Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence compiled the 28-page report. Rochester is among only a small number of states and cities to release its crime gun trace data.

The center analyzed data from 6,036 guns used in crimes during a ten-year period. It also used data from the Rochester Police Department’s Open Data Portal. Parts of the report were redacted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

News10NBC investigates gun trafficking:

• Where are the criminals in Rochester getting their illegal guns? (Nov. 2022)
• Where do the guns come from? Special unit of NYSP tracking them (Aug. 2022)
• Community leaders want to know where illegal guns come from (June 2022)
• City Council member asks “where are the guns coming from?” (June 2022)
• Most illegal guns seized in Rochester were sold in New York State (June 2022)
• Where do the illegal guns come from? (May 2022)

You can see the full report here: