New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a Thursday press conference that the increased rate of “above ground crimes” in the city are a direct result of the New York police department taking guns off the streets.
“Guns are being taken off the street in an unprecedented way,” the mayor stated. “Some people unfortunately are turning to a different weapon. Thank god, typically a less deadly weapon.”
“Well guess what that means, now the NYPD will now go get those weapons.”
Still, de Blasio struggled to reassure New Yorkers who might be scared by the current rash of robberies, assaults, and rapes, “up 20 percent for the month of February.”
“I think we’re just going to have a disagreement on this with all disrespect,” de Blasio told CBS2 reporter Marcia Kramer. “I believe in the NYPD. They are continuing to drive down crime. Any time they see a pattern, they address it with very great precision and very great impact.”