New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul has now banned the National Guard from carrying rifles while in the subway system conducting bag checks.
In an effort to combat violent crime in New York subways, Hochul was forced to deploy the National Guard as an added security measure on the public transportation system.
Hochul is reportedly now restricting the 750 National Guard troops from being armed with long guns against the potentially violent criminals.
Critics claimed the guards were making the subway system look like a “war zone,” leading to Hochul’s restrictions.
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik said the governor’s moves invade the privacy of law-abiding citizens and further extend anti-policing policies that have led to the crime surge in the first place.
“This is all a farce!” Kerik tweeted. “You’re going to harass law-abiding citizens, and the thugs carrying a 40 cal, or 9 mm, walk right by you because they’re not carrying a bag!
“Stop the theater! Repeal or eliminate bail reform, lock up the thugs, and sentence to the max. The NYPD knows their job! Give them the tools and laws they need to do the job and we wouldn’t have this problem!”
Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams instituted bag checks after a 13% spike in violent subway crime across the city.
“We stand ready to assist Local 100 as they confront this plague of violence — and transit executives who are either inept or indifferent to the harm inflicted on their own employees day and night,” Transit Workers Union President John Samuelsen said.
“On workplace safety, the MTA [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] has been an abysmal failure. Assaults against transit workers in the subway increased nearly 60% last year.”
