For decades, the NRA-ILA and gun rights advocates have highlighted a troubling pattern: politicians who push for stricter gun control often fail to enforce existing laws against dangerous criminals. The result? Law-abiding citizens are shackled with rules that criminals blatantly ignore. Nowhere is this contradiction more glaring than in New York City, where the so-called guardians of public safety seem more concerned with appeasing anti-gun agendas than addressing violent crime.
Let’s dive into two recent stories that showcase this hypocrisy in action.
On November 15, The New York Post broke a jaw-dropping story with a headline that sounds like it belongs in a crime thriller: “Migrant with loaded AR-15, suspected Mexican cartel member freed from jail after alleged assault on NYPD cops.” The details? A 20-year-old man was caught urinating in a subway tunnel with an AR-15 in his backpack. Yes, you read that right—an AR-15. Loaded. With 25 rounds. And the serial number had been defaced.
As if that wasn’t enough, this individual allegedly resisted arrest so violently that two NYPD officers were injured. The charges against him included assault, resisting arrest, trespassing, and multiple firearm violations. Yet, incredibly, he was released after posting $25,000 bail.
It’s worth noting that this suspect had two prior arrests and, according to the Post, his immigration status is murky at best. If he is in the country unlawfully, his mere possession of a firearm would constitute a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Add to that the defaced serial number, possession of a prohibited “assault weapon,” and illegal high-capacity magazine—all serious violations under New York’s stringent gun laws. And yet, here we are, with a suspected cartel member walking the streets while law-abiding gun owners are treated like criminals for owning a 15-round magazine.
If you think the AR-15 story is bad, buckle up. On November 18, New York City saw a tragedy that left three people dead in a stabbing spree across Manhattan. The suspect? A man with a criminal record longer than the line at a DMV on a Monday morning.
According to NBC News, this individual had been arrested eight times in New York City over the past year alone, not to mention previous charges in Ohio and Florida. He was released from jail just weeks before the rampage, despite his history of violence, mental illness, and a stint at Bellevue psych ward, where he reportedly assaulted a correction officer.
Even New York City Mayor Eric Adams couldn’t dodge the obvious, admitting, “There’s a real question that we need to look at on why he was out on the streets.”
The sister of one of the victims summed it up better than any politician could: “He has committed many crimes… He is on the loose, and it should not be like that. We need security for the city.”
Both stories underline a stark reality: New York’s gun laws are less about public safety and more about political theater. While the city bends over backward to keep repeat offenders on the streets, it simultaneously champions some of the strictest gun control measures in the country. Here’s the kicker: these measures are rarely enforced on actual criminals.
Consider the AR-15 suspect again. New York’s laundry list of firearm laws includes bans on so-called “assault weapons,” high-capacity magazines, and guns with defaced serial numbers. Violating these laws can carry felony charges, yet this individual somehow found himself back on the streets within days. Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens are forced to navigate a maze of red tape just to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
And then there’s the stabbing spree. This suspect’s history of violence and mental illness should have raised every red flag imaginable. But instead of taking proactive measures to ensure public safety, the system released him back into the community—with deadly consequences.
New York’s anti-gun politicians love to vilify lawful gun owners, blaming them for society’s ills while turning a blind eye to the real threats. They claim their draconian gun laws are about saving lives, yet their policies actively endanger the very people they’re supposed to protect.
The AR-15 suspect and the stabbing spree are just two examples of a broader issue: a justice system that prioritizes ideology over safety. Dangerous criminals are given second, third, and even eighth chances, while responsible gun owners are treated like public enemies. It’s a twisted game where law-abiding citizens lose every time.
Until New York’s leaders are willing to enforce the laws they already have, any calls for further gun control should be laughed out of the room. The tragic irony is that many of these laws could be effective—if they were applied to criminals instead of used as a cudgel against the law-abiding.
As the sister of one of the stabbing spree victims so poignantly put it: “We need security for the city.” It’s time for New York to stop demonizing gun owners and start holding criminals accountable. Because until that happens, the only thing these laws accomplish is disarming the innocent while emboldening the guilty.
