New York state is stepping up its efforts to prevent gun violence.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $36 million is going to law enforcement agencies participating in the state's initiative.

The funding will be used for equipment, overtime pay, personnel and training.

"The major cities, the smaller communities. They're all struggling, and I want them to know that in situations where things are really difficult, like we saw in Rochester and Syracuse last summer in particular, we were on the ground," Hochul says.

Hochul says police seized more than 10,000 guns last year -- a 53% increase compared to 2018.