Hochul bans ‘long guns’ for National Guard troops deployed to NYC subway bag checkpoints
NY Post
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 remiscent 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.
