Gun-Toting Councilwoman CLEARED — Progressive Outrage Erupts

A Republican NYC councilwoman who openly carried a gun to confront anti-Israel protesters walked away scot-free after prosecutors dismissed criminal charges, exposing how legal technicalities can override clear violations of New York’s strict gun laws.

Story Highlights

Brooklyn DA dropped gun charges against Councilwoman Inna Vernikov because her weapon was inoperable
Vernikov violated New York’s ban on firearms at protests despite having a valid concealed carry permit
The Republican lawmaker openly carried the holstered gun while confronting pro-Palestinian protesters at Brooklyn College
Progressive critics claim the dismissal shows preferential treatment for conservative officials

Legal Technicality Saves Gun-Carrying Councilwoman

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez dismissed criminal gun charges against NYC Council Member Inna Vernikov after NYPD lab tests revealed her firearm was inoperable. The weapon was unloaded and missing its recoil spring assembly, making it impossible for prosecutors to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it could fire bullets. This technical deficiency became the decisive factor that allowed Vernikov to escape criminal liability for violating New York’s prohibition on firearms at protests.

The case highlighted tensions between New York’s post-Bruen gun restrictions and prosecutorial standards. Despite having a valid concealed carry permit, Vernikov violated the state’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act, which designates protests as “sensitive locations” where firearms are banned regardless of permit status. Her open display of the holstered weapon at the October 12, 2023 Brooklyn College rally created a high-profile test case for these new restrictions.

Conservative Councilwoman Confronts Campus Radicals

Vernikov attended the pro-Palestinian rally as a counter-protester, positioning herself as a defender of Jewish students against what she characterized as pro-terrorist demonstrations. The Ukrainian-born Jewish Republican represents District 48 in south Brooklyn, areas with substantial Jewish and immigrant populations increasingly concerned about rising antisemitism. Her confrontational approach included posting a video calling the protesters “terrorists without the bombs,” which she kept pinned on social media.

The councilwoman’s actions occurred amid escalating tensions following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which triggered numerous heated demonstrations across NYC campuses. Brooklyn College, part of the CUNY system, has long been a focal point for Middle East-related activism and controversies over BDS movements and alleged antisemitism. Vernikov’s visible armed presence represented a dramatic escalation in counter-protest tactics during this volatile period.

Double Standards in Progressive Justice System

Progressive critics expressed frustration that Vernikov escaped consequences while other protesters faced aggressive enforcement for lesser violations. The dismissal reinforced conservative arguments about selective prosecution in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions, where political alignment appears to influence legal outcomes. Despite initially promising accountability, progressive Council members watched helplessly as their Republican colleague emerged unscathed from what should have been a clear-cut weapons violation.

The case exposed fundamental weaknesses in New York’s approach to enforcing its expanded gun restrictions. While the DA’s office maintained that bringing guns to protests “creates an unacceptable risk of harm,” the operability requirement provided an easy escape route for violations. This technical loophole threatens to undermine the effectiveness of laws designed to keep firearms away from volatile public gatherings, potentially encouraging others to test similar boundaries.