I just cannot imagine living in an environment overrun with gang bangers whacking each other!
Especially in a state as hard-over opposed to private gun ownership as New York is.
What is a private citizen to do?
They can try to lie to themselves all they like... But to live in a city culture like that is mental illness.
The violence is limited to the local communities, and NY state and city pale in comparison to Chi, DC, Balt. Even with the spike NYC would have around 300 homicides. Less than half of Chi whose population is maybe 30% of NYC’s. So the violence barely affects most people.