The number of New Yorkers legally packing guns is on the rise — and they’re not necessarily what you’d expect.
For a city where obtaining a license to carry a firearm was, not long ago, nearly impossible, a surprising number of NYC residents — 17% — have bought a gun in the past year, according to a July Siena poll.
This comes after a landmark Supreme Court decision last year radically changed gun laws by overturning New York State’s centuries-old ban on carrying concealed firearms.
“I want it for protection,” Brooklyn councilwoman Inna Vernikov told The Post about her new weapon.
he received his concealed carry license this month after his application was approved in July.
When the Jewish Ukrainian native heads to his local synagogue for the high holiday starting Friday, he’ll bring an increasingly popular temple accessory: the Smith & Wesson 9MM.
“With anti-Semitism, it doesn’t feel safe in the city anymore,” Brooklyn councilwoman Inna Vernikov said of her decision to apply for a gun permit.Stephen Yang
While he’s been taking self-defense classes like Krav Maga for the past few years, the 39-year-old Republican bought the gun, which costs about $475, to “defend myself and my community.
“With anti-semitism, it doesn’t feel safe in the city anymore. You’re always on the sidelines and watching your back,” said Vernikov, who asked his synagogue to appoint him as a volunteer security guard. (“Only certain people, such as official security guards and congregation leaders, are allowed to carry weapons in places of worship.)
“We are short of police and recruitment is decreasing… Even though we need police, we cannot just depend on the police. Something life-changing can happen in the time it takes for the police to arrive.”
Nearly 90% of NYC residents surveyed in the Siena poll called crime in the city a serious problem.
Vernikov has completed 16 hours of classroom study as well as two hours of live fire training.Stephen Yang
Vernikov completed New York State’s mandatory concealed carry class this spring, including 16 hours of classroom study and two hours of live fire training.
A New York State concealed carry license also requires four character references, a list of former and current social media accounts for the past three years, an in-person interview, and disclosure of the applicant’s spouse or domestic partner and any other resident adults. in the House.
At Vernikov’s “packed” shooting practice class in Staten Island, she said, there were more female participants than she expected.
Victoria Bonelli was nine months pregnant when she completed a three-day, 18-hour training course this summer.
Bonelli said he decided to arm himself because of the crime in the city.
“It’s peace of mind and I can now protect myself and others, but of course, the goal is to never use it,” he said of his firearm. “The best thing you can do is defend yourself.”
Victoria Bonelli shared that sentiment.
“It’s not just my life anymore. I would walk the baby and put him in the car all the time. I’m really just making sure that I’m properly equipped for a life or death situation. This is our reality now,” the mother of a newborn daughter told The Post.
Aida, who owns a grocery store in The Bronx, applied for her gun permit after fearing violence against market workers. Provided to NY Post
The 25-year-old from Whitestone, Queens, was nine months pregnant when she completed a three-day, 18-hour training course this summer, which included lessons on gun safety and civil rights.
“As a first-time mom with all the things going on in NYC, I feel uncomfortable walking around,” says the registered nurse and licensed esthetician who owns her own spa, SinvigoratedNYC. “Whitestone is a pretty nice area, but I went to another part of Queens, Brooklyn, to [Manhattan] if i have to It’s hard to say, but even in a ‘good area,’ you never know what can happen these days.”
While waiting for his permit, Bonelli said he has modified his routine.
“It never crossed my mind before,” Aida said of owning a gun. “Only the police should have it [guns].”Provided to the NY Post
“I used to like going to the city. I don’t ride the subway right now. I’d rather pay a $100 toll than take the subway.”
Leading his training course was NYPD Sgt. Johnny Nunez completed the 18-hour New York State/NYC undercover course as required by the state.
“The demand is there — it’s incredible,” Nunez told The Post, noting various New Yorkers want to protect themselves. “We see a lot of husband and wife teams, doctors and realtors — safety issues because they’re showing houses.”
In addition to the increased number of women, Nunez said she has more business owners signing up for the class, including barbers, jewelers and grocers.
NYPD Sgt. Johnny Nunez, who runs the 18-hour New York State/NYC stealth course, says he’s seen an increase in female students as well as business owners. Courtesy of Johnny Nunez
Aida, a Yonkers mother of two, fits the bill as owner of a Manhattan market.
“It never crossed my mind before,” said the 35-year-old, who grew up in a supermarket family. “Only the police should have it [guns]; they should give us security.”
But violence against local bodega workers — including a March robbery on the Upper East Side that ended in the death of a deli worker and a similar situation on Staten Island in July — scared him.
“The way things are now, we have to protect ourselves,” said Aida, who is in the process of applying for her permit.
“The mayor recently said that there are too many guns on the streets — no, that’s not true. It’s that there are too many illegal guns on the streets,” Nunez said. “I challenge the politicians to show me the statistics: How many shootings are there [in the five boroughs] are trained concealed weapon owners responsible?”
“In our Orthodox community as a whole, when it comes to owning a gun, it’s not controversial at all,” said a gun owner named Dave who has a new concealed carry permit. Emmy Park for the NY Post
Judaica World in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has a window sign telling customers that legal firearms are allowed on the premises. Emmy Park for the NY Post
Still, Nunez warns that pursuing a license is for everyone.
“I tell people that your weapon is a last resort only to be used in imminent danger. The training is huge,” he said of the de-escalation and conflict resolution training. “We said from the beginning that if you’re the type of person who gets caught up in emotions, this not for you. Your life will change with a concealed carry weapon.”
Joel Collado, a doorman based in Corona, Queens who holds down two jobs on the East Side, told The Post that he is waiting for his concealed carry permit “for peace of mind.”
With the late shift ending after 11pm, he forgoes the subway and opts to ride a bicycle or scooter into the city to work.
“I never imagined this city to be what it is today. Crime has arisen,” the 43-year-old said, adding that he had a friend who was attacked in Manhattan. “Let me get ready.”
Some stores in Crown Heights — an area with a large Orthodox Jewish population — now have signs telling customers they support concealed carry. Emmy Park for the NY Post
“Thank you for keeping our kids safe” reads a sign hidden at Crown Drugs.Emmy Park for NY Post
Collado is actively researching which firearms to end up buying and looking at safes for home storage. He has completed the required firearms safety training course in the state.
“It’s a big responsibility. It’s all about safety.”
Dave, a professional in the fire prevention industry in Boro Park, Brooklyn, said he was grateful to take on the responsibility.
His concealed carry permit was approved a few months ago.
“We lack police,” Vernikov also said of his decision to get a concealed carry permit.Stephen Yang
“Even a year ago it was not possible [obtain]. Now it’s very different. NYC is obviously very liberal, but it has a process that works,” said Dave, 39, who asked that his last name be withheld for security reasons.
“We all deal with the criminal element in New York, but other than that, I’m a visible Jew. [Anti-semitism] a threat that other New Yorkers may not have to face. In our Orthodox community as a whole, when it comes to owning a firearm, it is not controversial at all. Everyone understands that bad actors have guns and good actors must have guns to protect themselves and society.”
Vernikov said the recent revelation of his new license in the X broadcast has received support from commentators. “When I posted the news, a lot of people said they would apply too.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
