{"id":2115502,"date":"2023-12-04T16:17:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T21:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hundreds-of-nyc-bodega-workers-applying-for-gun-permits-amid-violent-thefts\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T16:23:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T21:23:29","slug":"hundreds-of-nyc-bodega-workers-applying-for-gun-permits-amid-violent-thefts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hundreds-of-nyc-bodega-workers-applying-for-gun-permits-amid-violent-thefts\/","title":{"rendered":"Many NYC bodega workers seek gun permits due to rising thefts"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhundreds-of-nyc-bodega-workers-applying-for-gun-permits-amid-violent-thefts%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2115502&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Hundreds \u200bof Bodega Workers in New York City Apply for\u200d Concealed-Carry Gun \u200cPermits Amid Rising \u200bViolence<\/h2>\n<p>In the face of ongoing violent \u200btheft, hundreds \u2063of bodega workers in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/new-york-city\">New York City<\/a> are taking matters into their own hands by applying for concealed-carry gun permits.<\/p>\n<p>The United Bodegas of\u200d America, the\u200d union\u2063 representing bodega workers,\u200b has stepped in\u200c to assist\u2064 at least 230 bodega owners \u200bin their application process for firearm licenses.<\/p>\n<p>Bodegas, the \u2062city&#8217;s small convenience stores, often find themselves \u200csituated in high-crime neighborhoods,\u200d making them prime targets for criminals, some of \u2063whom are armed.<\/p>\n<p>Following the pandemic, the \u200bbodega union established a &#8220;secret society of gun owners&#8221; for bodega employees \u2064in New \u200dYork City, enabling them to obtain concealed-carry licenses. The identities of armed store owners will remain \u200dconfidential,\u2063 according to the union.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Anyone that&#8217;s out there looking to rob us, hurt us, kill us \u2013 beware,&#8221; warned union spokesman Fernando\u2063 Mateo. &#8220;You may \u2063be walking into the wrong bodega because now we have the\u2062 same firepower you have.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The union\u200c connects store owners with concealed-carry classes, a requirement by the state to obtain a \u200bpermit. Seasoned instructors like Johnny Nunez, a retired NYPD\u2064 sergeant and \u200cformer\u2063 New \u2063York City \u200bpolice academy instructor, lead these \u200dcourses.<\/p>\n<h3>Addressing a Growing Issue<\/h3>\n<p>The decision to \u200carm \u2063themselves comes in response to \u2062a \u200dseries of high-profile deadly \u2064crimes that have occurred in\u2064 bodegas over \u200dthe past few years.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, a\u2063 15-year-old boy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5ny.com\/news\/lesandro-junior-feliz-guzman-murder-five-sentenced-after-2018-killing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">entered<\/a> a Bronx bodega \u2062and was subsequently dragged\u2062 out\u200c and fatally stabbed by members of \u2064the \u200bTrinitarios gang.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier\u200c this\u200b year, a double shooting at a Bronx bodega \u200cclaimed \u2063the\u200b life of one man. Just\u200b weeks prior, an armed robber\u200b with a criminal record <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5ny.com\/news\/bronx-bodega-shooting-wakefield\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shot<\/a> and killed a\u200d deli worker\u2062 on the Upper East Side.<\/p>\n<p>In another incident, a man <a href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn.news12.com\/bodega-workers-call-for-more-safety-measures-in-response-to-mount-hope-fatal-shooting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shot<\/a> another individual in\u200c the stomach and\u200d pursued him into a bodega before police arrived. \u2064Tragically, the victim did not survive.<\/p>\n<p>However, bodegas are not the only retail stores in New York City\u2064 taking \u2062precautions. The National Supermarket Association reports that approximately 25% of its \u200bmembers in the\u200b city now carry firearms, compared to just 10% before the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>While \u200ccrime rates have decreased \u2063this year compared to the previous year, robberies, assaults, burglaries, \u2063and grand larceny remain significantly higher \u2063than they were two years ago, according to NYPD data.<\/p>\n<p>Shootings,\u2062 on the \u2063other hand, have seen a decline after a \u2063surge in 2020, which prompted the bodega union to\u200c advocate for gun licenses.<\/p>\n<p>Retail theft\u2062 has also experienced a \u200cdramatic increase, with shoplifting complaints rising by\u200b 44% from 2021 to 2022, as reported\u200b by the mayor&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Eric Adams\u2062 revealed that over 22,000 incidents of retail theft occurred last \u2064year, with more\u200b than 300 repeat offenders responsible for 30% of these crimes. In response, he launched a task force to combat \u200cthe\u200b issue.<\/p>\n<p>Radhames Rodriguez, the president of the bodega union and owner of several bodegas in the Bronx, recently obtained his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mark-w-smith-clever-but-wrong-inside-the-anti-gun-arguments-at-the-supreme-court\/\" title=\"Mark W. Smith: Clever but Wrong -- Inside the Anti-Gun Arguments at the Supreme Court\">concealed-carry license<\/a> and purchased a 9mm Smith &#038; \u200bWesson \u200bpistol. He had\u200b previously held a &#8220;premises&#8221; gun permit in \u200dthe 1980s but allowed it to lapse as the city\u200d became safer in \u2062subsequent decades.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Now, however, it started looking like in the &#8217;80s, the &#8217;90s,&#8221; Rodriguez told the New \u200dYork Post. &#8220;That&#8217;s why \u200cI applied, and \u2062this is why I\u200c have it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As\u200d bodega workers take\u2064 steps \u2064to protect \u200cthemselves and \u2062their businesses, the issue of rising\u200d violence\u200b in New York City continues to be a pressing concern.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1700760801843000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG\">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What factors make bodegas more vulnerable to \u2063criminal activities compared to\u2063 other establishments in New York City?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Gas are \u2062not the only establishments experiencing an \u200bincrease in violence. Throughout New York City, crime rates have been on the rise, leaving residents\u2062 feeling unsafe and vulnerable.\u200d This alarming trend has prompted many to take matters into their own hands, and bodega workers are no exception.<\/p>\n<p>Bodegas, synonymous with the vibrant neighborhoods they serve, \u200dare often\u2063 at \u200bthe forefront of their communities.\u200b They \u200bprovide essential goods and services to\u200d residents,\u2062 but they are also easy targets for criminals due to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utah-teenage-social-media-law-threatens-privacy-and-speech-rights-industry-says\/\" title=\"Utah teenage social media law threatens privacy and speech rights, industry says\">late-night hours<\/a> \u2063and isolated locations. While these workers play a \u2062vital role \u2062in \u2063their neighborhoods, their safety has become a growing concern.<\/p>\n<p>In response to this escalating violence, the United Bodegas of America, a union representing bodega\u200b workers, has taken action. They have begun assisting bodega owners \u200din the application process for concealed-carry gun permits. This move has seen over 230 bodega owners apply for firearm licenses, highlighting the urgency of the situation.<\/p>\n<p>The union&#8217;s efforts have not gone unnoticed. They have also established a &#8220;secret society\u200d of \u200bgun owners&#8221; specifically for bodega employees \u2062in New York City. This initiative aims to empower and protect those who \u2064work in these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-relies-on-honor-system-for-booster-shot-eligibility\/\" title=\"CDC relies on honor system for booster shot eligibility\">high-risk environments<\/a>. Additionally, the identities of armed store owners are kept confidential to avoid potential targeting by criminals.<\/p>\n<p>Fernando\u200b Mateo, a \u2062union spokesman, issued a stern \u2063warning to potential criminals, stating, &#8220;Anyone that&#8217;s out there looking to rob us, hurt us, kill us \u2013 beware. You may be walking into the wrong\u200c bodega because now we \u200chave the same firepower you have.&#8221; This declaration underscores the determination of bodega workers to defend themselves and their businesses against criminal activities.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure the responsible use of firearms, the union connects\u2062 store owners with concealed-carry classes. These classes are mandatory and teach participants proper gun safety and usage. Experienced instructors, like Johnny Nunez, a retired NYPD\u2062 sergeant\u2063 and former police academy instructor, lead these courses. This\u2062 comprehensive approach ensures that bodega workers are not only armed but also well-trained in handling firearms.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200cdecision \u2064to arm themselves stems from\u200d a series of tragic \u2063incidents that have taken place in bodegas over the past few years. These stories\u2064 of \u2063violence remind\u200d us of the vulnerable position bodega workers find themselves in every day. \u2062In \u20632018, a 15-year-old boy was\u200c brutally killed \u2064inside a\u2062 Bronx bodega\u200c by members of the Trinitarios gang.\u200d More recently, a double shooting \u2062in a Bronx bodega claimed yet another life. These incidents, along with many others, highlight the\u200b urgent need for enhanced \u2062security \u200cmeasures.<\/p>\n<p>It is\u2062 important to note that the decision to apply for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/there-is-one-pro-women-camp-in-american-politics-and-its-the-right\/\" title=\"There Is One Pro-Women Camp In American Politics, And It\u2019s The Right\">concealed-carry permits<\/a> \u2062and carry firearms is not\u2064 one taken \u200blightly. Bodega workers are not seeking vigilante justice, but rather the ability to \u2064protect themselves and their\u2062 livelihoods.\u200d The\u200d rise in \u2062violence and\u200d targeted attacks\u2062 against bodegas necessitates that they\u2063 take \u2063proactive measures for their\u2062 own safety.<\/p>\n<p>The issue of bodega workers \u200capplying for \u2064concealed-carry gun \u200bpermits \u2063is a reflection of the wider\u2063 problem \u200dof rising violence in New York \u2063City. In an \u200cenvironment where crime rates are climbing, individuals \u200dare seeking ways to\u200b safeguard themselves and those around them. It is crucial that authorities take proactive steps to address this issue \u2064and ensure the safety of all residents.<\/p>\n<p>While\u200c the situation may seem dire, the response\u2062 from bodega workers exemplifies their\u200c courage and resilience. \u200dBy arming themselves and acquiring concealed-carry gun permits, they are taking a stand against\u2063 violence and asserting \u200ctheir rights to protect themselves and their communities. The efforts made by the United Bodegas\u2062 of America\u200b and the support they have provided should not go unnoticed. It is essential that we\u2062 recognize the importance of safety and security for \u2062all, particularly those individuals who are on\u2064 the front \u2062lines of their communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hundreds of NYC bodega workers seek concealed-carry permits due to rampant theft. The United Bodegas of America union has assisted over 230 owners in applying for firearm licenses. These small convenience stores are frequently targeted by criminals, prompting workers to take measures to protect themselves and their businesses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":2115503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2115502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2115502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2115503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2115502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2115502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2115502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}