New York City's Jewish population has initiated a firearms acquisition surge in response to anti-Israel mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's victory, with gun retailers and training instructors experiencing unprecedented demand, The New York Post reported. Michael Bergida, proprietor of the recently established Samson Armory in Marine Park, Brooklyn – named after the biblical Israelite warrior – serves customers ranging from anxious elderly individuals to frightened rabbis.
"We're probably the only gun store to have a minyan," the 30-year-old Orthodox owner stated, referring to Jewish prayer gatherings at his thriving business. Bergida forecasted "chaos" during the approaching radical socialist administration, explaining, "The NYPD is all retiring – we have to fight for ourselves. People are freaking out over Mamdani – anyone who has any Christian-Judeo values," while asserting "We have to let everyone know — don't f**k with the Jews" and "Never again." As an NRA-certified firearms instructor, his mission involves preparing synagogues "to have active shooter situations and be prepared," noting "It's like doomsday prepping – people are loading up ammo" and "I have a passion to prep Jews," according to The New York Post. Declaring "We ain't fleeing— we're here to stay. We're not victims anymore," Bergida exemplifies the community's determination.
Additional firearms instructors and gun retailers received overwhelming appeals following Mamdani's electoral success, The New York Post found. "It's getting busy because of him," veteran instructor Lance Dashefsky stated, identifying the mayor-elect as the catalyst. Concealed carry applications surged 14% from 620 during June – when Mamdani captured the Democratic primary – to 706 during August, NYPD statistics revealed. NYC licenses require six to 12 months for processing, which involves completing mandatory state courses, including 16 hours of classroom study and two hours of live fire training. The 57-year-old Dashefsky, anticipating further increases, now provides bagels, lox, and cream cheese during Sunday instruction sessions, explaining, "I always ask people in class why they want a gun," and "And now the answer is Mamdani," The New York Post reported. Brooklyn firearms instructor Ross Den previously indicated that individuals who were undecided about obtaining concealed carry weapons have now resolved to do so, with the demographic encompassing Jewish physicians, attorneys, plumbers, and rabbis.
"There are plenty of rabbis who carry – shul is where the greatest threat is," Den stated, adding "People are beginning to wake up and are now realizing they have to defend themselves and not rely on the cavalry to come save them." Transporting concealed weapons to a synagogue remains lawful when armed attendees receive a security volunteer designation from houses of worship, Den clarified, according to The New York Post.
Mamdani, founder of his college Students for Justice in Palestine chapter and champion of the antisemitic Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement, proclaimed "when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF" as an assemblyman in 2023. The Muslim radical socialist refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and vowed to arrest the Israeli prime minister during his next Big Apple visit.
District-level election data show that Hasidic strongholds, including Borough Park and Crown Heights, overwhelmingly supported former Governor Andrew Cuomo, with 88% and 75% support, respectively. Israelis residing in NYC maintain heightened vigilance following the emergence of the Democratic Socialists of America's demands of Mamdani, exposing virulently anti-Israel and antisemitic objectives.
