Following the election of anti-Semitic Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly arming themselves to face whatever persecution might come, according to a New York Post report.
Several Jewish New York citizens, including gun shop owner Michael Berdiga, told the Post that gun sales to Jews are on the rise before the anti-Israel “mayor who despises us” takes office.
“The NYPD is all retiring—we have to fight for ourselves,” Berdiga told the Post. “People are freaking out over Mamdani—anyone who has any Christian-Judeo values.”
He added: “We have to let everyone know—don’t f–k with the Jews. Never again. We ain’t fleeing—we’re here to stay. We’re not victims anymore.”
According to the Post report, carry permit applications soared after Mamdani won the primary. They’re sure to rise even more since he was victorious in the general election.
According to New York Police Department data, concealed carry permit requests rose 14% from 620 in June, when Zo won the Dem primary, to 706 in August. That has caused a mini boom for some gun safety instructors, including Lance Dashefsky.
“It’s getting busy because of him,” Dashefsky said, referring to Mamdani. “I always ask people in class why they want a gun. And now the answer is Mamdani.”
Of course, the fear of Mamdani by Jewish New Yorkers isn’t unsubstantiated. Not only has he refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, but he’s even vowed to arrest the country’s prime minister the next time he comes to NYC. And as an assemblyman in 2023, Mamdani infamously said, “When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.”
Despite Jewish voters overwhelmingly voting against Mamdani and for Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani still won handily. And that’s not only a danger to Jewish New Yorkers, but, some argue, gun rights nationwide. Throughout his campaign, her repeatedly stated,“We are reminded—no matter how strong our gun laws are in this state—we are only as safe as the weakest laws in this nation.”
In a news release headlined, “NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will become a national anti-gun force,” the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) said: “For all gun owners, not just those behind the lines in New York City, Mamdani’s election was the absolute worst. He never hid his hatred of modern firearms. In fact, he was lobbying hard against legal firearm ownership before he was elected mayor.”
Ultimately, SAF concluded: “Mamdani’s anti-gun efforts will result in the deaths of more innocent New Yorkers. It’s too bad that not all of its 8 million residents can afford to flee to safer states.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) also weighed in on Mamdani’s threat to gun rights.
“Assemblyman Mamdani, if his past statements are to be believed, would further restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New York City residents,” the group wrote in a news alert. “That would be at the same time as a mass reduction in the number of police officers on the street, leaving the city a more dangerous place for peaceful New Yorkers. Mamdani has waffled on previous policy positions from when he supported defunding police to now claiming to support current spending levels.”
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