A fast-growing wave of gun buying is sweeping through New York’s Jewish community as residents prepare for the incoming administration of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a politician many view as openly hostile toward Israel and traditional Judeo-Christian values. Gun shop owners and firearms instructors across Brooklyn say the rush began the morning after Election Day—and shows no sign of slowing down.
A New Gun Store Turns Into a Community Hub
One of the centers of this surge is Samson Armory in Marine Park, Brooklyn—the first new gun store in the borough in more than fifty years. Its owner, 30-year-old Orthodox Jew Michael Bergida, said business exploded almost overnight.
“We’re probably the only gun store to have a minyan,” Bergida told The New York Post, describing how many of his customers pray together inside the shop. He says people are buying guns not out of panic, but out of a sense of responsibility: “The NYPD is all retiring – we have to fight for ourselves. People are freaking out over Mamdani – anyone who has any Christian-Judeo values.”
Bergida, an NRA-certified instructor, works closely with synagogues on preparedness and active-shooter planning. “It’s like doomsday prepping – people are loading up ammo,” he said. “I have a passion to prep Jews.” His message is blunt: “We have to let everyone know — don’t f–k with the Jews,” and “Never again.”
He says he is not going anywhere despite the city’s political shift. “We ain’t fleeing — we’re here to stay. We’re not victims anymore.”
Instructors Are Overwhelmed With New Students
Other firearms instructors report the exact same pattern. Lance Dashefsky, a longtime gun-safety instructor, told reporters, “It’s getting busy because of him,” referring directly to Mamdani. He added, “I always ask people in class why they want a gun. And now the answer is Mamdani.”
NYPD data backs that up. Concealed-carry permit applications rose 14%, jumping from 620 in June—when Mamdani won the Democratic primary—to 706 in August. Because New York City requires up to a year of processing and a mandatory 18-hour training course, instructors are now running full-capacity classes every weekend, often serving bagels, lox, and coffee to the new crowd.
Brooklyn instructor Ross Den said that people who were once on the fence are suddenly taking the plunge. His students now include Jewish “doctors, lawyers, plumbers and even rabbis.” Den explained why many faith leaders quietly carry:
“There are plenty of rabbis who carry – shul is where the greatest threat is.” He added that “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.”
New York law allows firearms in houses of worship only if a congregant is designated as a security volunteer—something many synagogues are now formalizing.
Why Mamdani’s Win Triggered This Reaction
The reaction inside the Jewish community stems from Mamdani’s long history of anti-Israel activism. As a state assemblyman, Mamdani declared, “when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” He has supported the BDS movement, refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, and even vowed to arrest Israel’s prime minister if he visits New York City.
Jewish neighborhoods responded clearly at the polls. Election data shows Borough Park and Crown Heights—two heavily Hasidic areas—voted overwhelmingly for former Governor Andrew Cuomo instead of Mamdani, with support levels of 88% and 75% respectively.
Families Are Taking Their Safety Into Their Own Hands
For many families, the motivation is simple: self-reliance. An Israeli-born mother of four told the Post, “We are Jewish and we will protect ourselves – even if the mayor despises us.” She applied for her gun license the day after the election. “We want a say in our own protection and not have to rely on others.”
Her sentiment mirrors the rising mindset across the community: if antisemitic incidents increase or police protection weakens, they do not intend to be easy targets.
A Historic Turning Point for Jewish Self-Defense in NYC
New York City has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, yet the surge shows how deeply political change can drive personal security decisions. What is happening now is different from previous cycles of fear or community tension. This time, Jewish New Yorkers are acting fast—and in large numbers—to get trained, licensed, and prepared.
While critics argue that gun ownership will not solve the city’s political challenges, the people showing up at Samson Armory and in safety classes every week see things differently. They believe taking responsibility for their own protection is not just smart—it is necessary.
And as Bergida puts it, this new chapter is about strength, not fear: “We’re here to stay. We’re not victims anymore.”
We are in dangerous times! We are SO CLOSE to our final funding goals! With your help we can make it!
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will become a National Anti-gun Force
jews are far more evil on a macro scale than muslimes, who are backwards themselves. NY jews should move back to israel.
There is no such thing as judeo-Christian, that’s just a twisted lie. Anything that begins with judeo is just jews subverting the second part.