Officially a licensed gun owner! pic.twitter.com/5W4GQYyXXb
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) September 5, 2023
A New York City councilmember said that she carries a pistol around with her for protection because she is worried about crime in the city, including attacks based on prejudice.
“With anti-semitism, it doesn’t feel safe in the city anymore. You’re always on edge and watching your back,” Brooklyn councilwoman Inna Vernikov told The New York Post.
Vernikov asked her synagogue to allow her to become a volunteer safety guard, explaining that only certain people, such as congregation leaders or an official safety guard, can carry guns in temples.
“We are short on cops and recruitments are way down … As much as we need the police, we can’t just rely on the police. Something life-altering can happen in the time it takes for cops to arrive,” she said.
“It’s peace of mind and I can now protect myself and someone else, but of course, the goal is to never have to use it,” she said of her gun. “The best thing you can do is defend yourself.”
— Fatma Khaled in NYC Lawmaker Reveals Why She Now Carries a Pistol With Her to Temple: ‘Doesn’t Feel Safe in the City Anymore’