Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Ray Kelly On Face The Nation: "The Problem Is The Handgun"
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 27, 2013
Modified Jan 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jan 27, 2013
Modified Jan 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly appeared on Face the Nation this morning to talk about gun control, and while he voiced support for an assault weapons ban (several were captured by police in the Bronx yesterday) Kelly noted that those weapons only accounted for 2% of those arrested for gun possession. "The problem is the handgun. 60% of the murders in New York City are caused by handguns, and we simply have too many of them," the commissioner said, before pointing out the city's record low murder rate last year.
Commissioner Kelly said that the universal background check—one of the four measures President Obama asked Congress to pass earlier this month—would help immensely in cutting back on illegal sales of guns. Bob Schieffer also got Kelly to expound some on the new gun detector the department is developing with the Defense Department and the London Metropolitan Police which spots terahertz radiation emitted by humans but blocked by handguns. "It's still too big for deployment in a reasonable way. It's sort of like the cellphone was 20 years ago. We hope to be using it experimentally in the next 6 months."
Schieffer and the Commissioner shared a laugh when the moderator asked if there were civil liberties concerns with the technology: "Oh sure, this is New York, no question about it. We're working with our attorneys to make sure that it is appropriately used, we want to get everybody on board before it's widespread use."
Tagged
murder rate
gun control
handguns
guns
Ray Kelly
cbs
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Spy magazine is doing a Substack pop-up
Because the "Irony Epidemic" is hitting inboxes in honor of Spy's 40th anniversary, here are your early links: West Village gated school street, Trump still promising $5,000 checks, butter is in and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 8:57 a.m. ET
Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony fall, NYPD says
Police say it's still unclear whether the pair jumped, fell or were pushed.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony fall, NYPD says
Police say it's still unclear whether the pair jumped, fell or were pushed.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
After Trump defunding, thousands losing rental assistance in NYC may finally have relief
By
David Brand
Blind man dismissed from grand jury duty can sue NY for discrimination, judge rules
By
Samantha Max
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .