Gun cost dropped in opposition to NYC councilwoman who introduced weapon to Israel conflict protest

Prosecutors have dropped a weapons cost in opposition to New York Metropolis Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who confirmed as much as counter protest a pro-Palestinian rally at Brooklyn Faculty final month with a gun strapped to her hip, in keeping with Brooklyn District Lawyer Eric Gonzalez.

The gun was not loaded and was decided to be inoperable, prosecutors stated.

“Peaceable protest is the appropriate of each American, however bringing a gun to a protest is illegitimate and creates an unacceptable threat of hurt that has no place in our metropolis,” a spokesman for Gonzalez stated. “The firearm recovered by the NYPD on this case was unloaded and lacking the recoil spring meeting, rendering it inoperable, in keeping with the NYPD’s lab report. With a purpose to maintain this cost, it should be confirmed past an affordable doubt that the weapon in query was able to firing bullets. Absent such proof, now we have no alternative however to dismiss these costs.”

Vernikov, a Republican who represents the south Brooklyn neighborhoods of Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Seaside, was filmed on the Oct. 12 rally with a handgun in her pants. Though the councilwoman has a hid carry allow, she violated the not too long ago handed metropolis legislation that prohibits civilians from bringing firearms to protests, police stated.

The 39-year-old lawmaker was contacted by police the next day and he or she surrendered to police on the seventieth Precinct. She was charged with felony possession of a firearm.

“At no cut-off date was anybody menaced or injured on account of her possessing the firearm on the earlier protest,” the NYPD stated in a press release on the time.

Vernikov, a Ukrainian immigrant who has been a staunch opponent of Palestinian rallies, posted a video of herself on the rally on X, previously referred to as Twitter, claiming, “If you’re right here, standing at the moment with these folks, you’re nothing in need of a terrorist with out the bombs.” She nonetheless has the video pinned to the highest of her account.

Her arrest had been referred to the Metropolis Council’s Requirements and Ethics Committee, of which she occurs to be a member, for attainable disciplinary motion. Below New York legislation, an individual convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be barred from elected workplace.