• Recent Baltimore statistics show that 42% of defendants charged with felony gun crimes have prior gun arrests.
• In New York City, when compared to other felons, those convicted of felony gun possession were:
  • More likely to be re-arrested;
  • Their re-arrests were more likely to involve violence (e.g., murder, sex offenses, robbery, assault, weapons) compared - 42% compared to 25%; and
  • They were four times more likely to be arrested for homicide.

• Requirements: Gun Offender Registry Acts (GORAs), like those passed in Baltimore in 2007 and New York City in 2006, require defendants convicted of specified gun crimes to:
  • Register their addresses with the police;
  • Verify them in person every 6 months; and
  • Promptly notify the police if they change addresses for a period of time following their conviction or period of incarceration.
• Covered gun crimes: Each city's ordinance lists the specific crimes that trigger reporting because they are tied to high recidivism rates in data about that city.
• Duration: A person remains on the Gun Offender Registry for a period of years - three in Baltimore, four in New York City - from the date of conviction or release from imprisonment, whichever is later.
• Penalties: In both cities, failure to abide by these conditions is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine up to $1000 or both.
• Analogue: GORAs build upon Megan's Laws, which have proven to be effective enforcement tools against sex offenders around the country.

New York City Council: Gun Offender Registration Act (GORA) The law requires individuals convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree to register their current addresses and personally report to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) every six months. Learn more

This is a selected list of initiatives that members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns are pursuing in their cities. Please note that the programs and ideas listed on this page have not been formally endorsed by the coalition. Mayors Against Illegal Guns understands that what works in one city or town might not work in another - but mayors in this coalition have an interest in learning from each other, and these items are presented as starting points for those conversations.