The number of New Yorkers legally carrying guns is increasing, and they are not necessarily who you would expect.
For a city where obtaining a license to carry a firearm was once, not long ago, nearly impossible, a surprising number of New York City residents (17%) purchased a gun last year, according to a survey by July Sienna.
This comes after a landmark Supreme Court decision last year radically overhauled gun laws by striking down New York State’s centuries-old restrictions on carrying concealed firearms.
“I want it for protection,” Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov told The Post of her new weapon.
She received his concealed carry license this month after his application was approved in July.
When the native Ukrainian Jew heads to her local synagogue for the high holidays that begin Friday, she will be carrying an increasingly popular temple accessory: a 9mm Smith & Wesson.
“With anti-Semitism, the city no longer feels safe,” Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said of her decision to apply for a gun permit. Stephen Yang
Although she has been taking self-defense classes such as Krav Maga for the past few years, the 39-year-old Republican purchased the firearm, which costs about $475, to “defend myself and my community.
“With anti-Semitism, the city no longer feels safe. You’re always nervous and watching your back,” said Vernikov, who asked her synagogue to appoint her as a volunteer security guard. (“Only certain people, such as official security guards and congregation leaders, may carry weapons in places of worship.”)
“We are short of police and recruitment is very low… As much as we need the police, we cannot simply depend on them. “Something life-changing can happen in the time it takes for the police to arrive.”
Nearly 90% of New York residents surveyed in the Siena survey rated crime in the city as a serious problem.
Vernikov has completed 16 hours of classroom studies, as well as two hours of live fire training.Stephen Yang
Vernikov completed a mandatory concealed carry class in New York state this spring, which includes 16 hours of classroom study and two hours of live-fire training.
The New York State concealed carry license also requires four-character references, a list of previous and current social media accounts from the last three years, an in-person interview, and disclosure of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, as well as well as any other adult residing in the house.
At Vernikov’s “packed” shooting classes on Staten Island, he said, there were more female attendees than he expected.
Victoria Bonelli was nine months pregnant when she finished a three-day, 18-hour training course this summer.
Bonelli said he decided to arm himself because of crime in the city.
“It’s peace of mind and now I can protect myself and someone else, but of course the goal is to never have to use it,” she said of her firearm. “The best thing you can do is defend yourself.”
Victoria Bonelli shares that sentiment.
“It’s not just my life anymore. I will be walking with a baby and putting him in the car all the time. I’m really just making sure 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, a grocery store owner in the Bronx, applied for her gun permit after being frightened by 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 citizens’ rights.
“Being a new mother and with everything going on in New York, I don’t feel as comfortable walking around,” said the registered nurse and licensed esthetician who owns her own spa, SinvigorateNYC. “Whitestone is a pretty good area, but I travel to other parts of Queens, Brooklyn, to [Manhattan] If I have to. It’s a shame to say, but even in the ‘good areas’, you never know what could happen nowadays.”
While waiting for permission, Bonelli said he modified his routine.
“It had never been on my mind before,” Aida said about owning a gun. “Only police officers were supposed to have them.” [guns].”Provided to NY Post
“I loved going to the city. I don’t even take the subway anymore. “I’d rather pay $100 tolls than take the subway.”
Leading their training course was retired NYPD Sgt. Johnny Nunez teaches an 18-hour concealed carry course in New York State and New York City, as required by the state.
“The demand is there, it’s incredible,” Núñez told The Post, noting the wide range of New Yorkers seeking to protect themselves. “We’re seeing a lot of husband and wife teams, doctors and real estate agents, a safety issue because they’re showing houses.”
In addition to an increase in the number of women, Nunez said more business owners have registered for the class, including barbers, jewelers and shopkeepers.
Retired NYPD Sgt. Johnny Nunez, who teaches an 18-hour concealed carry course in New York state and New York City, said he has seen an increase in the number of female students and business owners. Courtesy of Johnny Nunez
Aida, a mother of two from Yonkers, fits the bill as a Manhattan market owner.
“This had never occurred to me before,” said the 35-year-old, who grew up in a supermarket family. “Only police officers were supposed to have them.” [guns]; “They were supposed to provide us security.”
But violence against local bodega workers — including a March robbery on the Upper East Side that left a deli employee dead and a similar situation on Staten Island in July — scared her.
“The way things are now, we have to protect ourselves,” said Aida, who is in the middle of the permit application process.
“The mayor recently said there are too many guns on the street; no, that’s not correct. There are too many illegal weapons on the street,” said Núñez. “I challenge politicians to show me the statistics: how many of these shootings [in the five boroughs] What are owners trained to carry concealed weapons responsible for?
“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 weapons permit. Emmy Park for NY Post
Judaica World in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has a sign in the window informing customers that legal weapons are allowed on the premises. Emmy Park for NY Post
Still, Núñez warned that obtaining a license is for everyone.
“I tell people that their gun is a last resort that should only be used in the event of imminent danger. The training is great,” he said of the de-escalation and conflict resolution training. “We said from the beginning that if you are the type of person who gets caught up in emotions, this is not for you. “Your life is going to change with a concealed weapon.”
Joel Collado, a doorman from Corona, Queens, who works two jobs on the East Side, told The Post that he is waiting for his concealed carry permit “for peace of mind.”
Since his afternoon shift ends after 11 p.m., he ditched the subway and opted to ride his bike or scooter into the city to work.
“I never would have imagined that the city would become the way it is now. Crime has emerged,” the 43-year-old said, adding that he had friends who were assaulted in Manhattan. “Let me get ready.”
Several stores in Crown Heights, an area with a large Orthodox Jewish population, now have signs informing customers that they support concealed carry. Emmy Park for NY Post
“Thank you for keeping our children safe,” reads the concealed carry sign at Crown Drugs. Emmy Park for NY Post
Collado is actively researching which firearm he will eventually purchase and looking for safes to store them in the home. He has completed the state-required firearms safety training course.
“It is a huge responsibility. “It’s all about safety.”
Dave, a fire prevention industry professional in Boro Park, Brooklyn, said he is grateful to take on this responsibility.
His concealed carry permit was approved a few months ago.
“We are short of police officers,” Vernikov also said of his decision to obtain a concealed weapons permit.Stephen Yang
“Even a year ago it was not possible [obtain]. Now it’s very different. New York City is obviously very liberal, but it has a process that works,” said Dave, 39, who asked that his last name not be revealed for security reasons.
“We all deal with the criminal element in New York, but other than that, I am 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 gun, it is not at all controversial. “Everyone understands that bad actors have guns and good actors should have guns to protect themselves and the community.”
Vernikov said the recent revelation of his new license in an X publication received support from commentators. “When I published the news, a lot of people said they were going to run too.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn