By COLlive reporter
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams called on retired and off-duty law enforcement officers to carry their firearms when coming to a house of worship following the Pittsburgh Shabbos Massacre.
Speaking at a press conference in Brooklyn and flanked by Jewish community leaders, Adams said he plans to bring his own gun when he enters a church or synagogue.
“If they are leaving those firearms home, I am now saying to them, ‘stop leaving your firearm home,'” Adams said, according to NBC-NY. “Do as I do. Bring your firearm to church.”
Adams, who is a retired NYPD captain, committed his support for the Jewish community after an anti-Semitic gunman opened fire inside a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people and injuring more.
New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who represents part of Brooklyn, said he supported the suggestion. “I am registering immediately for a gun license. And I encourage other Jews to do so to protect their institutions and synagogues,” he tweeted. “If we are targets, we need to be prepared.”
This isn’t the first time this suggestion has been made. Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, a former police officer, founded a group called the International Security Coalition of Clergy which called to arm Jews in synagogues.
Speaking to the New York Post, Moskowitz said: “A guy comes in with a gun, and what can they do? Throw chairs at them? We’re sitting ducks here. Several people in every synagogue should have the right to carry a premise permit.”
NBC-NY reported that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio opposed Adams’ idea. “Houses of worship do not have to have armed guards to be able to practice their religions,” he said.
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Where is the pledge of public funds for more cops and more surveillance cameras in CH ?
Why don’t the Jewish leaders demand more money?
Millions for the arts, for supportive housing, for homeless shelters, but a drop in the bucket for crime prevention?
Shame on the Jewish dictatorship (CHJCC) which does not hold elections in CH and keeps the Jewish people quiet and weak.
What are we waiting for?
In the “good old days,” when such violence was rare, then there was no need for guns; calling the police sufficed. But now, having a gun on the premises, in the hands of a pro, is advisable.
But one shouldn’t carry while making a ‘l’chaim on Shabbos.
Guns and ANY alcohol don’t mix.
We live in a state where concealed carry is legal though difficult to get. My husband takes a small gun to shul. I would love to get rid of the kiddish club but not happening. Agree. Keep it quiet but necessary.
Is it legal, to either carry, or have guns in shul, in NY and NJ?
If so, can any civilian/citizen get the required permit to do so?
Otherwise everyone is just wasting breath and time.
In the mishne brura there are two instructions/halachot next to each other Not allowed in a mikdash maat are bareheaded and long knifes. So why next to each other Protection comes from yireh shamayim No sabres and no guns allowed
However there are so many people of different religions that have lost their “way” and choose and pick how to be…………
A guard booth is normal, pistol packing isn’t ! We won’t get fooled again !
we cant this mans word as he removed the very capable rabbi Goldstein just because he was a jew, also he is very tight with Farrakhan and lastly what he is proposing only work for the cops how many frum cops are there? and if we have to HIRE cops, well than that’s even worse that will bankrupt the shuls.
And a cop always carriers! They even get a special, less bulky gun to make it more comfortable to carry 24/7.
Time to get proper security, moonlighting or retired cops, in all our shuls and schools
Ever heard expression never say never ?
There are republicans who do the wrong thing and democrats who do the right thing…fortunately we have a gop president and a democrat borough president both standing for the right thing
Yes … every one should carry and bring a gun to shule .. considering guns and booze don’t mix … this will put an end to all the kiddish clubs ruining the kedusha of our shules
Bravo!!! Well said!!!
You touched on two important points, training and gun safety. Any one who owns a gun with children needs to teach them the safety rules as well. Kids as young as 8 should be able to safely handle a gun when properly trained.
By making as absurd a statement as you have made, saying that firearm related accidents “which by definition are non-preventable”, only accentuates your incredible ignorance, and proves that you truly know nothing about firearm safety! As someone who ACTUALLY POSSESSES a license to carry a concealed weapon and has carried one daily for years (including on Shabbos), as well as being NRA range safety certified, and owning a veritable arsenal of different guns, and training on a monthly basis, I can tell you unequivocally, that with today’s modern firearms it is nearly impossible to have a real “accidental” discharge! Virtually… Read more »
some people from the minyan can be trained to use guns, There are shooting ranges for practice
there should be a gun inside every Bima, maybe there could be a special wooden compartment custom made for Bimas to have an arm just in case
By “public knowledge” I meant that everyone knows there are people who are armed, not that everyone who is armed must make it known. I worded that badly, sorry.
Please wake up and smell the gun powder.
Arming sensible people makes sense. Having a guard these days in front of a house of worship makes sense. Don’t give cops in patrol cars who are on their phones the entire time
I remember reading somewhere that the Rebbe was against Jewish patrols in Crown Heights to carry guns because they could be used accidentally and cause friction with other groups.Does anyone know where the Rebbe said this?
It’s nobody’s business who the individuals carrying are in your shul unless you’re one of them and in the “need to know”. It should NOT be public knowledge.
A thief has confidence and is prepared for his job. Therefore realize that hatefilled and/or crazed persons with weapons are prepared and determined to destroy lives.
No matter how highly trained a person is, if he is not on alert he is not likely to make a difference. Even police officers are subject to harm.
Please, let’s rely on armed guards and if necessary uniformed police who are on duty and not focused on prayer, socializing or any other activity.
Everyone knows that there are BH people in several if not all of the frum shuls in Pittsburgh who bring a gun on shabbos. These people have permission from the Rav, as far as I know. Maybe it’s a good idea to first ask the rabbi of your shul if you should carry as he may tell you there are already enough people. This is important because the more guns there are, the more cause for accidents (which by definition are non-preventable but you can take measures to avoid them, if that makes sense) as well as carrying a gun… Read more »
I’m glad Dov Hikind is encouraging us to get guns, and I would be happy to purchase one to protect my family. However, acquiring a lisence in New York is nearly impossible. Instead of Dov Hikind tweeting that he encourages us to do the same, perhaps it would be helpful if he or someone can HELP us through the process.
What about increasing in Toiro and Mitzvois, ahavas Yisroel, Lashon nekiya, Shabat ke’hilchata?
לא בכדי אמרו חכמינו (שבת קנא, ע”ב): “כל המרחם על הבריות מרחמין עליו מן השמים”. לאמור: אף אם ח”ו נגזר רע על היחיד או על …הרבים, הרי בזכות הרחמים
Um…ya, ideally we shouldn’t need guns or armed guards. Ideally, there shouldn’t be terrorism either.
Ideally, human beings don’t commit acts of evil, but in reality, human beings are capable of the worst kinds of evil.
Wake up people!
It could be dangerous, chas v’shalom, for someone to bring a gun if they are not well trained in safety procedures. They also have to know about laws of carrying a gun on Shabbos. Also, the gun bearer should know other forms of protection, such as karate, to use a gun only if necessary. How could someone have kavanah in davening if they are thinking about what shouldn’t happen?
Maybe we could and would carry, and less attacks on Jews in and around CH would happen!
BS”D Wonder if it is worth the danger, had a friend who carried a gun and it discharged in 770 in the 70’s, Thankfully not hitting anyone
It’s not a novel or original idea.
It has to do with what the State by State law is, and the penalty, which currently makes it illegal to do so in NJ, NY, etc.
1) Gun laws need to be Federal, unless they can properly install a border wall, with patrol, and metal detector around each State.
2) Maybe Trump or the Govt can make an immediate waiver of the law to allow for an armed civilian patrol at houses of worship, schools, and other religious institutions.
-PH
100% Yes – arm every shul, every school. It’s the ONLY way to save lives in such a situation. And there’s nothing like the knowledge that he is going to ‘get’ before he gives, to deter a potential maniac.