(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
It's not entirely fair to lay all the blame on New York City. The city
administration has exerted considerable effort. Admittedly, the city did slash
its police budget by 11% amidst the heated defund-the-police sentiment
following George Floyd's death, under Warren Wilhelm, Jr.'s administration.
Moreover, it's true that the depleted NYPD is now often referred to as
"irreparable" in its current condition. Also, it's undeniable that Manhattan's
DA seems more engrossed in "reimagining" criminal justice than prosecuting
actual criminals.
Nevertheless, the city that's famously known as the city that never sleeps
has endeavored to combat the surge in violent crime. They've implemented a
stringent Bruen-response gun control law, designating large sections of the
island as "sensitive areas" where firearms are completely banned. To ensure
public awareness, the city installed "gun-free zone" signs all around Times
Square last year. Hence, there should be no misunderstanding about Times
Square's status as a gun-free area.
Considering these measures, one can't help but be perplexed, much like
Robert Barrows must have been, to hear about a shooting in Times
Square that injured three people. It's truly bewildering.
As reported by the New York Post...
The victims, aged 15, 16, and 17, were hit by bullets when an unidentified
male suspect opened fire on Seventh Avenue between West 41st and 42nd
streets at nearly midnight, according to the NYPD.
Both the 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys were injured in the leg.
The reasons behind this incident remain uncertain. Perhaps the individuals
involved were not local residents or English might not be the shooter's
first language. To make the message crystal clear to everyone, maybe the
city should consider putting up signs in Spanish, French, Chinese, and other
languages to communicate the gun-free policy more effectively.
Authorities reported that the shooter escaped on foot on West 41st Street.
As of early Tuesday, he remained at large.
The incident, as well as the baffling question of how the shooter managed to
bring a firearm into Times Square, are still under investigation.
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