People often decide to buy a gun and train after something shakes them. For Jews in NYC, this was that moment. I bought my first gun the day after Obama was elected.
Jewish gun owners, firearms instructors and security professionals in New York City say demand for firearms training and concealed-carry permits has surged since the election of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, with many citing concerns about safety and a perceived shift in the city’s political climate, according to a Saturday New York Post report.
At Samson Armory, a recently opened gun shop in Brooklyn, owner Michael Bergida said interest rose sharply immediately after Mamdani’s victory. Bergida, 30, an NRA-certified firearms instructor and Orthodox Jew, said many of his new customers are older Jewish residents, clergy members and others who fear rising antisemitism.
“We’re probably the only gun store to have a minyan,” Bergida said. He described growing anxiety within Orthodox communities and predicted “chaos” under the new administration. “The NYPD is all retiring – we have to fight for ourselves. People are freaking out over Mamdani – anyone who has any Christian-Judeo values,” he stated.
TOI Staff
