With 8.38 million people living there, New York City is one of the largest cities in the world. It’s the focus of a lot of media attention, with every major news agency in the world having a presence there as well as being the epicenter of television entertainment.

That’s a whole lot going on in a single city.

It’s also got a violent crime problem, as we noted earlier this week.

Officials there are desperate to at least appear they’re doing something to combat the crime issue. That likely is what led to the NYPD and DA joining forces to host a gun buyback event.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and the City Police Department announced that 62 guns were collected Saturday at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Ozone Park. The gun buyback comes as the city has experienced an increase in gun violence and sought to curb this devastation by accepting working unloaded firearms — with no questions asked — in exchange for compensation.

The gun buy-back event was co-sponsored by the NYPD, the Office of the State Attorney General Letitia James, Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Assembly Member David Weprin.

DA Katz said, “Every effort that we make against the proliferation of gun violence makes an impact. I am committed to investigating and prosecuting drivers of violence but it is just as important for all of us to work

together as a community on meaningful solutions before such violence occurs. Each of the 62 guns recovered today is a potential life saved and a potential tragedy averted. I thank the NYPD, our community partners, faith-based leaders and co-sponsors for their unwavering commitment to public safety.”

Wait…62 guns in total in a city of over 8 million people, and they’re counting this as a win?

Seriously?

That’s not even a drop in the bucket.

What’s more, Katz’s comment is complete BS as well. Most of the guns turned in at buybacks aren’t destined to be used in crimes. They’re guns people have and want to get rid of, but don’t know how to do so lawfully. So, they decide to dump them at a buyback.

Many aren’t even operable. That’s as true in New York City as in rural Mississippi.

Those don’t represent lives saved. They represent a board on the soapbox a politician will use to pretend he did something.

But Katz wasn’t alone in talking nonsense.

“Taking guns off the streets is essential to preserving public safety and fighting crime,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Gun buybacks are one of the many measures we are taking to prevent potential tragedies and save lives. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, and my office will continue to do everything to protect communities in Queens and across the state. I thank District Attorney Katz and our partners in law enforcement for their shared commitment to this initiative.”

Except, buybacks don’t prevent tragedies. There’s no evidence they do anything at all to reduce violent crime. Study after study has backed that up, too.

But then again, James gets remarkably myopic when it comes to guns. No amount of evidence will convince her or people like her that this is a waste of time, money, and effort.

If there’s an upside to buybacks, particularly in New York City, it’s that while doing these, officials aren’t further infringing on people’s rights.