This is so rich. After convincing her husband to defund the police in New York City, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife is encouraging New Yorkers to “physically intervene” when they observe criminals preying on innocent civilians. In June of last year, Chirlane McCray convinced her husband to cut the NYPD’s budget by $1 billion, according to the New York Post. Now, as crime rates in the city have skyrocketed and Asian-Americans have allegedly been subject to a string of attacks, McCray wants city residents to intervene. “As attacks on Asian American communities continue, we’re asking New Yorkers to show up for their neighbors and intervene when witnessing hateful violence or harassment. I know that can be frightening when you aren’t sure what to do or say, but you can learn,” she said on Twitter. McCary runs through the “five D’s” of anti-harassment intervention, one of which is “direct”: “Respond directly to the aggressor or physically intervene and only after assessing the situation,” she says. “Be confident, assertive, calm. This is risky, but sometimes all we can do is speak up. If the harasser responds, try your best to focus on assisting the person targeted.” 5. Direct: Respond directly to the aggressor or physically intervene and only after assessing the situation. Be confident, assertive, calm.This is risky, but sometimes all we can do is speak up. If the harasser responds, try your best to focus on assisting the person targeted. — Chirlane McCray (@NYCFirstLady) March 6, 2021 SEE ALSO: Why Is Everybody Moving to AOC’s “Capitalist Dystopian Nightmare?” I have so many questions. On what planet are citizen-interventions safer (or less racist) than police interventions? The New York City Police Department is among the finest in the world. Their officers are trained in de-escalation techniques, and they have the training and tools necessary to intervene in a violent assault. By contrast, most average citizens have zero training. I’m no MMA fighter, but I know that subduing a violent criminal is incredibly difficult. It takes years of practice to successfully and safely pull someone to the ground, and an untrained citizen is just as likely to hurt themselves or the victim as they are to subdue an attacker. McCary’s “advice” sounds like it’s informed more by Marvel movies than the reality of a violent encounter. Good-hearted citizens don’t have superpowers. They won’t be able to stop the rising crime rates in NYC, and if they follow McCary’s plan, they’ll most likely add to the number of victims. Now, don’t get me wrong: I believe the American people have the right to defend themselves against violent assault. That’s why I support expanding concealed carry laws, and adamantly oppose NYC’s efforts to restrict lawful concealed carry. (Yet another irony in this story: DeBlasio’s wife wants New Yorkers to defend one another but doesn’t want to give them the tools they might need to defend themselves. It’s almost impossible to get a concealed carry license in NYC.) SEE ALSO: We’re Asking the Wrong Questions About the “Equality Act” But there’s big difference between self-defense and intervention. McCary is suggesting that New Yorkers take on the responsibilities of law enforcement by intervening when they spot harassment or assault. That’s like asking average citizens to help stop fires in other peoples’ houses with a garden hose. It ain’t going to end well. All Americans should have the right to own the tools to keep them safe—whether a fire extinguisher or a firearm. As I’ve written before, those rights are an essential component of self-governance, and each person must decide whether they’re willing to use those rights to help others in need. But no true conservative wants to replace law enforcement with vigilantes. That’s called anarchy, and apparently, it’s become a mainstream position in the Democratic party. H/T Daily Wire
