New York Gov. Kathy Hochul banned the use of long guns by National Guardsmen she sent to check bags at Big Apple subway stations — as she continued to defend the controversial deployment.
Hochul issued the ban on military-grade rifles “immediately after” 750 troops were deployed to the subway system, a spokesperson told The Post Sunday.
After the deployment began last week, straphangers entering the subway were greeted by camouflaged and gun-toting soldiers at bag-search checkpoints in a sight reminiscent of the city after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The move led to complaints that state leaders were militarizing the subway system, and NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell accused Hochul of treating the subways like a “war zone.”
“Stop the theater!” wrote former Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik in a post on X, adding that “the NYPD knows their job” and should be left to do it.
Under Hochul’s new directive, some guardsmen will still be armed with assault weapons at certain postings throughout the subway, but will not carry them at the actual bag checkpoints.
Commuters voiced support Sunday afternoon for the National Guard presence — but said they also agreed with Hochul’s decision to leave the assault rifles behind.
“Overall, I do approve of the National Guard on the subway. We all know there is violent crime on the subway and it needs to be stopped,” Peter Luciano, 37, told The Post.
“But the guns are unnecessary. To me, it’s just a display. They have no intention of using them. It’s for fear. It’s excessive and unnecessary.”
Brooklyn teacher Jazmine Diggs, 26, also said the move by Hochul made her feel safer, but didn’t think the firearms were needed.
“What if someone grabs it from them and starts shooting?” Diggs said.
Daniella Pavon, 28, added: “I don’t think that kind of a weapon should be used in such a crowded space. I do like having them [National Guard] here, I feel more protected if anything happens.”
Troops first appeared in the subways on Wednesday to conduct random bag checks in a major show of force that Hochul said would help solve the “crisis” of crime in the subways.
The latest on NYC subway crime
Subway crime rose nearly 20% in the first two months of 2024, as compared to this time last year. The period saw substantial increases in grand larcenies (22% increase), felony assaults (17%) and robberies (12%), according to newly released NYPD statistics.
There have been two murders in the subway system in 2024, compared with just one at this point last year.
The combined statistics point to an overall crime increase of about 18.3%, with 317 reported incidents compared to 268 over the same period last year. However, arrests have also increased by 44%.
Mayor Eric Adams said the NYPD will quickly move to 12-hour tours to try to control the crime wave, which he blamed on the city’s rollback of its subway safety plan that increased police presence in the subway in 2022.
Adams stressed finding a “new norm for patrolling our subway systems” — including reinstating the increased police presence and enhanced bag checks.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that nearly 1,000 New York National Guardsmen, state police and MTA cops are being deployed to carry out bag checks in the subway system.
In addition to the patrol boost, Hochul plans to introduce a new law that allows judges to ban anyone who has been convicted of a violent transit assault from riding New York City’s subway or bus system.
Hochul’s plan includes new surveillance cameras directed toward conductor cabins to protect transit staff, CCTV cameras in every train car by the end of the year, and a $20 million cash injection to increase the number of Subway Co-Response Outreach teams throughout the system.
“These brazen, heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated,” Hochul said.
“No one heading to their job or to visit family or go to a doctor appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon,” the governor added.
“They shouldn’t worry about whether someone’s going to brandish a knife or gun. That’s what we’re going to do with these checkpoints.”
Hochul has hit back at critics, arguing the average commuter is feeling high levels of “anxiety” on the system and that the National Guard will help “supplement” the NYPD’s efforts to keep the subway safe.
“It is more of just a physical presence where you can see — if you’re feeling anxious and you feel safer when you see someone that could protect you if you need help. If you need help, someone is there,” the governor said in a WBLS 107.5 FM interview Sunday.
“We had an unusual spike of crimes, high-profile crimes, frightening crimes,” she went on. “Everyone’s thinking, ‘That could have been me.’ And they may be deterred from going on the trains and using the subway, and that’s exactly the opposite of what we want to have happen. We want people to feel safe and be safe.”
Subway crime spiked 45% in January compared to the same month a year prior — but dropped 15% in February, which Mayor Eric Adams credited to new NYPD patrols on the subway.
Crime on the subway is up 13% overall for the year, according to NYPD statistics.
Hochul’s deployment of the National Guard is part of a larger five-point plan to make the subways safer, which includes:
- Influx of 1,000 National Guardsmen, state and MTA cops.
- Law to allow judges to ban transit assault perps from trains, buses.
- Installation of CCTV cameras in all train cars, conductor cabins.
- Better coordination between NYPD and district attorneys to thwart recidivists.
- $20 million to expand Subway Co-Response Outreach mental health teams.
Additional reporting by Vaughn Golden and Carl Campanile
