Shuttershock
Lawmakers in New York and California are endorsing stringent gun control
measures under the pretext of ensuring public "safety." Voters in these
states, however, don't necessarily share the views of Governors Gavin Newsom
and Kathy Hochul.
The sentiment of the electorate matters. If constituents are feeling
threatened by rising crime rates, and continue to witness news of violent
criminals escaping justice due to lenient prosecution, they will take
measures to safeguard themselves. This may involve legally acquiring a
firearm for self-defense, perhaps for the first time, or voting out
prosecutors or other officials who aren't up to the task.
Despite all this, people living in cities nationwide still view their
political representatives as failing to address their safety concerns,
regardless of repeated assurances from officials with anti-gun and
anti-safety stances.
The Mirage of Safety in New York
Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York tried to allay residents'
concerns about the increasing danger in their cities. She praised her
administration's efforts to enforce strict gun control, claiming their
strategies were effective. She used the instance of
State Trooper Richard Albert, who was shot in the arm after a traffic stop, to illustrate how recent
stringent gun control measures are keeping New Yorkers safe. However, she
conveniently overlooked the fact that the offender who shot Trooper Albert
had a
substantial criminal record, had completed an 11-year prison sentence, and was legally prohibited from
purchasing a firearm. The criminal, who committed suicide during the
standoff, had never adhered to any of Hochul's rigorous laws.
Shuttershock
Fast forward to July, a new report from
Siena College
contradicts the Governor's optimistic narrative.
The
polling report, titled "61% Worry About Being Crime Victim; Half Worry About Their Safety
in Public Places," uncovers significant figures that contradict Governor
Hochul's overly positive stance. The report also indicates that 36 percent
of New Yorkers, over a third, have felt intimidated by the actions of a
stranger in a public space.
Siena College Research Institute's Director, Don Levy,
said, “Crime isn’t just something that happens to others far away according to
New Yorkers,” adding that a staggering 61% worry about falling victim to
crime, highlighting an escalating concern for personal safety.
The City That Never Sleeps, But Always Fears
In New York City, crime continues to be a critical issue. Incidences of
criminal violence on subways
are a regular occurrence. Authorities have nonchalantly acknowledged the
surge in crime, describing the recent spate of multiple stabbings and
shootings on the subway as a "bad couple of weeks." The city's leaders' responses have been telling, with Governor
Hochul indicating she will sidestep and deflect to avoid facing reality,
while Mayor Eric Adams blames the media for
reporting on the violence.
AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
California's Bleak Dream
Over on the west coast, the narrative remains unchanged. Governor Newsom
touts his state's "leadership" in disregarding Constitutional rights, and
assailing the legal firearm industry and its advocates. Meanwhile,
Californians are left alone to grapple with their safety fears, supported by
an annual crime report that vindicates their apprehensions of
escalating crime, as per certain reports.
Californians' fear of crime spiked during the pandemic, with the LAPD
advising residents to "cooperate and comply" if they found themselves targeted by criminals. The city's residents
recalled George Soros-backed DA Chesa Boudin for his failure to combat
crime, and another Soros-backed DA,
Pamela Price
of Alameda County, is facing a recall effort over her ineffective crime
policies.
Embattled Alameda County DA Pamela Price responds to recall effort, critics
— Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 17, 2023
"The DA's role has really no impact on crime,” Price said.
Less than halfway into a 15-minute interview, Price's PR person Patti Lee pressed me to ask about her accomplishments. https://t.co/ryxcFxCbHI pic.twitter.com/5XmxqKYCUo
AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
A phrase from the Siena College poll stands out: “Many are taking steps to
protect themselves as best they can.” Industry data shows that this is
happening across the country, notably in New York and California. In New
York, over 145,000 citizens have purchased a firearm at retail so far in
2023, while in California, over 473,000 have done the same in just the first
half of the year.
AP Photo/Brennan Linsley
As long as gun control politicians continue to dismiss reality and favor
ineffective restrictions over tough action on criminals, Americans will make
their views known. Whether that's by voting them out of office or purchasing
a firearm to exercise their right to feel safe.
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