Preparations are underway in anticipation of the new Mamdani administration.
Jewish residents of New York City are expressing strong concerns as an “anti-Israel” mayor prepares to take office, according to several individuals who spoke with the Post this week.
One individual noted the desire to “have a say in our protection instead of depending on others.”
The morning after Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani’s victory, gun shop owners and firearm instructors received numerous urgent requests. “He keeps me busy,” remarked Lance Daszewski, a seasoned gun safety instructor.
Recent NYPD data shows concealed carry permit applications surged by 14%, rising from 620 in June—when Zaw won the Democratic primary—to 706 in August.
Daszewski, 57, expects this trend to continue, especially as he caters to newcomers by offering bagels and lox during his Sunday classes. “I’ve started asking my students why they desire a firearm,” he mentioned, “and the answer is usually Mamdani.”
Ross Deng, another firearms instructor based in Brooklyn, observed that many who were once hesitant about obtaining a concealed carry permit are increasingly willing to pursue it.
This includes a range of individuals—doctors, lawyers, plumbers, and even rabbis, he noted. “Many rabbis are conveying that the greatest risk is actually at the shul,” he explained. “People are beginning to understand that self-protection is essential, rather than waiting for help.”
According to Deng, carrying concealed weapons in a synagogue is permitted if the armed individual is recognized as a volunteer security guard by the congregation.
Michael Bergida, who has only recently opened a gun shop in Marine Park, Brooklyn, has experienced a notable uptick in business, predicting “chaos” under the incoming radical socialist mayor.
“It’s like preparing for doomsday. People are stocking up on ammunition,” he shared, highlighting a palpable concern in the city post-election. “I have a strong commitment to supporting the Jewish community.”
“The NYPD is in a state of retirement. We have to fend for ourselves,” Bergida insisted, adding that many with Christian and Jewish values are feeling anger toward Mamdani. “We’re probably the only gun store that caters to a minyan,” he remarked, indicating a commitment to remain proactive. “We will not be victims any longer.”
Deng noted a shift in awareness post-election. “People are starting to wake up,” he said, while guiding students through dry-fire training exercises.
Mamdani, a co-founder of a student chapter for Justice in Palestine and a supporter of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, made controversial remarks during his time as a congressman, claiming that “having an NYPD boot around your neck feels like being restrained by the Israeli Defense Forces.” His administration faces criticism for its refusal to acknowledge Israel’s existence as a Jewish state and its intent to arrest the Israeli prime minister during his next trip to New York.
Voter analysis reveals that Hasidic neighborhoods like Borough Park and Crown Heights overwhelmingly supported former Governor Andrew Cuomo, with 88% and 75% respectively.
Residents of Israeli descent in New York City are particularly unsettled by the anti-Israel demands emerging from Mamdani’s Democratic Socialists of America. An Israeli mother of four underscored this sentiment after the election, stating, “We are Jewish and will defend ourselves, even if the mayor looks down on us. We deserve a say in our safety and should not have to rely solely on others.”
