The City Council's Committee on Standards and Ethics on Tuesday declined to take disciplinary action against Brooklyn Council Member Inna Vernikov, who was investigated for bringing a handgun to a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Brooklyn College in October 2023.
Vernikov, who has a concealed carry permit, cannot openly carry her firearm and is barred by state law from bringing a gun to “sensitive locations," including protests. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office on Nov. 17 dismissed the charge against her, stating that the firearm was missing the spring recoil, assembly rendering it inoperable, according to Sandra Ung, the chair of the ethics committee.
Ung said the majority of the committee took offense that Vernikov, who represents Gravesend, Coney Island, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan Beach, did not apologize for her conduct, and the "chilling effect" a gun at a political rally has on the public's First Amendment rights.
"Although the Brooklyn District Attorney was unable to hold her criminally liable, possessing what appear to be a firearm in the public assembly is not only reckless, but a grave violation of their trust placed in public officials," Ung said. "Carrying a weapon, operable or not, into public assembly undermines the very principles of democracy and free expression. Public assemblies are a cornerstone of a democratic society, providing citizens with a safe space to voice their concerns and advocate for justice."
The duties of an elected official demand respect for the rights of all citizens and a commitment to public safety, Ung said.
City Council Member Crystal Hudson said although she was not condemning Vernikov's decision to own a firearm, she did not approve her decision to show up at a nonviolent student protest with one.
"As we live through a time of extreme divisiveness, it is even more important that we as elected officials set an example for our constituents," Hudson said. "We can hold differing opinions and disagree passionately, but those disagreements must never be accompanied by the specter of violence, especially gun violence. If I or any of my Black and brown colleagues had shown up to a campus protest with a visible firearm, It is hard to imagine the situation unfolding without immediate police intervention or serious incident," she said.
Council Member David Carr was the only committee member to defend the Brooklyn legislator.
"I agree with my colleagues that we as elected officials should be held to a higher standard, but I also believe strongly that elected officials enjoy the same rights as our fellow Americans," Carr said. "Given that there's been no wrongdoing, either criminally or more generally by Council Member Vernikov, I agree that this is not a matter that warrants further review or consideration by this committee."
Vernikov's spokesperson did not reply to an email for comment.
