New York City councilwoman arrested for bringing gun to counter pro-Palestinian rally

[HCM]

https://abc13.com/gun-charge-dropped...ael-/14076293/
Gun charge dropped against politician who brought weapon to Israel war protest
ByAaron Katersky ABCNews logo
Friday, November 17, 2023 1:30PM



Prosecutors have dropped a weapons charge against New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who showed up to counter protest a pro-Palestinian rally at Brooklyn College last month with a gun strapped to her hip, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

The gun was not loaded and was determined to be inoperable, prosecutors said.

"Peaceful protest is the right of every American, but bringing a gun to a protest is illegal and creates an unacceptable risk of harm that has no place in our city," a spokesman for Gonzalez said. "The firearm recovered by the NYPD in this case was unloaded and missing the recoil spring assembly, rendering it inoperable, according to the NYPD's lab report. In order to sustain this charge, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the weapon in question was capable of firing bullets. Absent such proof, we have no choice but to dismiss these charges."

Vernikov, a Republican who represents the south Brooklyn neighborhoods of Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach, was filmed at the Oct. 12 rally with a handgun in her pants. Although the councilwoman has a concealed carry permit, she violated the recently passed city law that prohibits civilians from bringing firearms to protests, police said.

The 39-year-old lawmaker was contacted by police the following day and she surrendered to police at the 70th Precinct. She was charged with criminal possession of a firearm.

"At no point in time was anyone menaced or injured as a result of her possessing the firearm at the earlier protest," the NYPD said in a statement at the time.

Vernikov, a Ukrainian immigrant who has been a staunch opponent of Palestinian rallies, posted a video of herself at the rally on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming, "If you are here, standing today with these people, you're nothing short of a terrorist without the bombs." She still has the video pinned to the top of her account.

Her arrest had been referred to the City Council's Standards and Ethics Committee, of which she happens to be a member, for possible disciplinary action. Under New York law, a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor can be barred from elected office.

In other words after talking to her attorney she removed the recoil spring from the the gun before she turned herself in and surrendered the gun. If that even happened.

Definitely an “Animal Farm” moment.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Saw a case where someone got jail time for lying on a 4473 for drug usage. No Hunter Biden 'deal' for that woman. That answers the question, I would think.

[WDR]

Definitely an “Animal Farm” moment.

I think you misspelled "bullshit" there between the quotation marks.

[Joe in PNG]

That would be a very, very, very, very stupid defense. So stupid that I can't imagine anyone there actually trying it.

Wow, was I ever wrong!

[Totem Polar]

Wow, was I ever wrong!

File under: “nothing surprises, but some things still amaze on occasion…”

[JCN]

Can someone double check my math?

If I take out the recoil spring, I still have the barrel and locking lugs…

Wouldn’t some guns still allow single shot capability if you held the slide in place?

(Totally agree that’s not what she actually had the gun condition in… but for freedom I’m happy the charge was dismissed)

[0ddl0t]

Saw a case where someone got jail time for lying on a 4473 for drug usage. No Hunter Biden 'deal' for that woman. That answers the question, I would think.

The mother of the 6 year-old who shot his teacher? That sounded like a plea deal...

[Joe S]

Can someone double check my math?

If I take out the recoil spring, I still have the barrel and locking lugs…

Wouldn’t some guns still allow single shot capability if you held the slide in place?

(Totally agree that’s not what she actually had the gun condition in… but for freedom I’m happy the charge was dismissed)

Some guns would. Doesn't matter, anyway. For legal reasons, it's a gun in NY. You can paint a water gun to look like a real gun and get charged with possession of a weapon.

It's status as "inoperable" is just completely made up to justify that if you are of the political/connected class, you can flaunt the law. While the NYPD arrests construction workers for their pocket knives.

[High Cross]

Some guns would. Doesn't matter, anyway. For legal reasons, it's a gun in NY. You can paint a water gun to look like a real gun and get charged with possession of a weapon.

It's status as "inoperable" is just completely made up to justify that if you are of the political/connected class, you can flaunt the law. While the NYPD arrests construction workers for their pocket knives.

My shooting buddy who just did Gunsite 250 with me lost his NYPD Academy class place back in 2007. He was an IT professional and had a leatherman wave on his belt. Cop stopped him outside penn station and he sat in the Tombs and had to paint benches in Washington square park. Judge told him his leatherman should have been left in the office neglecting to tell him HOW he should get it to the office. He now works in the defense industry in Virginia.

[Clusterfrack]

My shooting buddy who just did Gunsite 250 with me lost his NYPD Academy class place back in 2007. He was an IT professional and had a leatherman wave on his belt. Cop stopped him outside penn station and he sat in the Tombs and had to paint benches in Washington square park. Judge told him his leatherman should have been left in the office neglecting to tell him HOW he should get it to the office. He now works in the defense industry in Virginia.

Disgusting