4 Gun Stores In New York Robbed, ATF Offering Reward

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) involved in a string of robberies in New York. Firearms were stolen from four stores - MD Arms, McLain’s Sporting Goods, Denver’s Firearms, and AJ Archery.

When it comes to the debate about gun laws and if they stop crime, according to American Progress, former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Bradley Buckles stated,

Virtually every crime gun in the United States starts off as a legal firearm.

Legal guns, owned by 'law-abiding citizens' generally end up in the illegal marketplace through straw purchases, secondary sales by private sellers, and thefts from gun owners or dealers.

According to 24/7 Wall St. 607 firearms from New York were recovered out of state in 2022. The top destinations for New York firearms are Florida with 97 firearms, Pennsylvania with 51 firearms, and North Carolina with 42 firearms.

READ MORE: Are Private Gun Sales Legal In New York State?

The four retail locations, all federal firearms licensees, are:

AJ Archery, located at 3938 Nelson Heights, Cazenovia, NY 13035
- AJ Archery was burglarized on August 16, 2024. A total of 24 firearms were stolen.

MD Arms, located at 2649 James St Suite 105, Syracuse, NY 13206
- MD Arms was broken into on August 15, 2024. The unidentified suspects stole three firearms.

McLain’s Sporting Goods, located at 1001 Union Center Maine Hwy, Endicott, NY 13760
- McLain’s was robbed on August 7, 2024. Six guns were stolen during the burglary.

Denver’s Firearms, located at 22088 US-11 Unit 115-B, Watertown, NY 13601
- Denver’s Firearms was burglarized on July 27, 2024. During the invasion 12 firearms were taken.

READ MORE: Can You Legally Fly With A Firearm In New York State?

ATF NY Acting Special Agent in Charge Tommy Kalogiros said,

“In a country plagued with shootings, every stolen gun has the potential to create victims of violent gun crime. Federal firearms licensees are the first line of defense in stopping the flow of firearms into the hands of those who would use them to commit crimes and threaten the safety of our communities. ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to apprehend the suspects responsible for these burglaries and to stop the cycle of violence.”

Anyone with information that could lead police to the suspect(s) should contact the ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477). You can also reach out via email at ATFTips@atf.gov or cnycac@syracusepolice.org. Tips can be submitted anonymously by visiting www.reportit.com, www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips, or by texting ATFNYC to 63975.

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