This news from a city where legally carrying a firearm is a virtual impossibility for the average citizen:

From abc7ny.com:

Police said 63-year-old Rabbi Abraham Gopin was working at Lincoln Terrace Park in Crown Heights around 8 a.m. Tuesday when a man threw a large piece of construction material in his direction. He defended himself by punching back, but the attacker picked up another rock and threw it. The rabbi was struck in the face, knocking out his front teeth and causing a laceration to his forehead. The struggle continued before the suspect fled the location on foot. “He was about to kill me,” Gopin said.

It isn’t clear what made the suspect break off the attack.

According to the Wall Street Journal, so-called hate crimes are up in New York City by 83% in 2019 over the same period last year. About 60% of the reported hate crimes are anti-semitic in nature.

That being the case, it would seem prudent for New Yorkers to have the means to defend themselves. But the city has long made legally carrying firearms virtually impossible for all but the very wealthy and well-connected. Or those willing to pay off crooked cops and “fixers” to grease the skids.

This morning, as my father in law was walking in Rochester Park in Crown Heights, he was attacked with a deadly weapon. This is absolutely frightening, and obviously something that a civilization should never tolerate. May Hashem protect us, and we should only share good news. https://t.co/ZEYjk92Fms — Benny Friedman (@BennysMusic) August 27, 2019

That’s New York City Councilman Chaim Deutch decrying the violence directed at openly religious Jews in New York City. He’s gone so far as advocating armed off-duty and retired cops in houses of worship (though Mayor de Blasio is, of course, opposed).

But if you’re waiting for Councilman Deutch or any other New York pol to advocate easing the famously restrictive laws that prevent New Yorkers from availing themselves of their right to keep and bear arms, don’t hold your breath.