Anti-gun violence and how to legally own a gun: NYFA, Henan Association & Chamber of Commerce and Hebei Association jointly held a public lecture.

On the morning of Sunday, March 16, 2025, the New York Firearms Association (NYFA), together with the Henan Association of America, the Henan General Chamber of Commerce of America, and the Hebei Association of America , held a public lecture on anti-gun violence and legal gun ownership at the Royal Court Restaurant in Flushing.

(Event organizers and co-organizers)

The event featured special guests including NYPD Sergeant Liu Jeffery, Traffic Sergeant Xie Justin, Sam, owner of Long Island Equalizer Gun Shop, Lee, president of United Consulting, and James Mercado, a senior photographer who has served with the NYPD for 29 years . Many community residents actively participated, learning how to prevent gun violence, raise safety awareness, and gain a deeper understanding of legal gun ownership regulations.

Following speeches by Wang Jicheng, President of the Henan Association & Chamber of Commerce in the United States, Su Diankui, Honorary President, and Liu Shaoyong, President of the Hebei Association of America, Jiao Yangru, Secretary-General of the Henan Association, gave a brief introduction to the event and thanked everyone for attending. The lecture then officially began.

(Secretary-General and Presidents of the Henan Association)

The speaker for this seminar was John Lin, Honorary President and Senior Pistol Instructor of the New York Firearms and Shooting Association (NYFA) . Instructor Lin is a graduate of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice , possessing a strong criminal justice background and extensive experience in gun safety training. Instructor Lin provided a clear and easy-to-understand analysis of the current state of gun violence and prevention strategies, and detailed key provisions of New York City's gun laws. He particularly emphasized the importance of secure gun storage and used real-life cases to demonstrate to community residents how to identify potential risks, thereby effectively reducing the occurrence of violent incidents.

(Instructor Lin and members of the New York City Police Department)

To help residents better understand gun laws and their right to self-defense, Instructor Lin explained the gun application process on-site, including background checks, safety training, and relevant legal requirements. In addition, he demonstrated how to respond correctly in crisis situations through simulated scenarios, such as calm response strategies when facing a home invasion threat.

(Audience members present)

The presence of NYPD officers further boosted the confidence of community residents. Sergeant Liu Jeffery stated during the seminar: "Shootings happen every day, especially with the increasing prevalence of gun violence among younger people, posing numerous threats to the community. But rest assured, every officer is working diligently to reduce gun violence and protect community safety." Traffic Sergeant Xie Justin also provided detailed information on reporting illegal firearms, encouraging residents to actively provide clues and cooperate with law enforcement to combat gun crime. He emphasized that active community participation is crucial for maintaining safety and urged everyone to be vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity to the police to reduce gun crime.

(Two New York City police officers spoke on stage.)

In addition, James Mercado, senior photographer for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The original plan was to use the lecture to learn about the number of people among the attendees who owned guns and their reasons for doing so, and to share his own experiences. As a gun owner himself, and having twice experienced being pointed at with a gun in his life, James shared his insights and experiences. He stated that both experiences were extremely rare and occurred when he was young. The first time was in a subway car, where a group of teenagers were playing around. An angry passenger mistakenly thought he was with them and suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. James remained calm, and the passenger eventually left the car and moved to the next one. The second experience was even more bizarre. His apartment door was open, and two police officers suddenly stood in the doorway, pointing guns at him at close range. Upon seeing this, he immediately raised his hands to indicate "surrender." The three then returned to the apartment, only to discover that the police had gone to the wrong door; the apartment they actually needed to check was the one downstairs.

( Photo of senior photographer James with Sheriff Liu)

Finally, Instructor Lin, the speaker, explained in detail the importance of gun laws, especially the gun control regulations of New York City, upstate New York, Long Island counties, and other states, reminding participants to strictly abide by the relevant laws. He also provided guidance on home and street self-defense laws to ensure participants could legally use firearms in self-defense without violating the law.

( Lee, President of United Consulting)

(Sam, owner of the Hedo Gun Shop on Long Island)

Following the lecture, a Q&A session was held, during which participants actively asked questions about firearms laws, application procedures, and the right to self-defense. Instructor Lin patiently and meticulously answered each question, ensuring everyone had a clearer understanding of firearms-related regulations. He emphasized that legally owning firearms is not only a matter of personal rights but also involves community safety, and every firearms owner should possess a high degree of responsibility and legal awareness.

(Audience interaction session)

(Group photo taken at the scene)

The seminar concluded successfully amidst lively discussion and interaction. Participants expressed that they benefited greatly, gaining a deeper understanding of gun laws and enhancing their own safety awareness. Many residents hoped that more similar events could be held in the future to help community members continue learning and work together to maintain public safety.