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Illegal firearms seizures up in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids has seen a sharp increase in illegal firearms seizures in recent years. Grand Rapids police have seized more than 265 illegal guns so far this year, up from 254 in 2016 and more than double the 127 in 2013. The department began its One More Gun Off the Street program in 2016 to publicly highlight the effort to recover illegally owned or used guns. 

Police say more training and proactive enforcement has led to the increase in recoveries. Police Chief David Rahinsky says the department emphasizes recovering illegal guns to help reduce violent crime rates. Many guns are stolen during larcenies of homes, vehicles and businesses.

Police often recover them during traffic stops or through witness reports about armed individuals.

Mariano Avila is WGVU's inclusion reporter. He has made a career of bringing voices from the margins to those who need to hear them. Over the course of his career, Mariano has written for major papers in English and Spanish, published in magazines, worked in broadcast, and produced short films, commercials, and nonprofit campaigns. He also briefly served at a foreign consulate, organized for international human rights efforts and has done considerable work connecting marginalized people to religious, educational, and nonprofit institutions through the power of story.
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