New York City bodega owners are taking it upon themselves to protect their lives and property amid rising crime rates. The surge in criminal activity in the city, particularly robberies at bodegas, has elevated concerns that have led to more bodega workers to arm themselves.

In a state with some of the most restrictive gun laws, these folks are still trying to obtain the means by which they can defend themselves from would-be assailants.

New York City bodega owners are taking their safety into their own hands by applying for gun licenses at an alarming rate to protect themselves and their merchandise.

Founder of the Bodega & Small Business Group Association Frank Marte discussed the growing trend and why grocers are depending on their Second Amendment rights as thieves target their storefronts.

"We are not safe," Marte told "FOX & Friends" host Carley Shimkus on Monday.

"We don't have the protection that we need. We understand that the police department… they cannot be assisting when we [are] having so much [sic] problems, so we need to protect."

Over the past year, the United Bodegas of America and the Bodega and Small Business Group helped facilitate 230 gun license applications as business owners remain concerned about how crime in their neighborhood could impact their ability to do business.

A quarter of bodega owners are now armed, in comparison to just 10% prior to the pandemic, according to the National Supermarket Association.

Last year saw a marked increase in robberies of bodegas, which is likely fueling the desire to purchase firearms.

A surge in crime at bodegas has workers concerned about their safety. So far this year, there have been at least 195 robberies at bodegas, according to the NYPD.

That’s up 160% compared to the same time last year.

“Most people that work at bodegas, they come from really poor countries," bodega worker Amir Mozeb said. "They come here just to make ends meet. They have families and are just trying to do their best."

The spike in crime has instilled fear and uncertainty among many bodega owners, many of whom are immigrants trying to make ends meet in a new country. A bodega worker named Amir Mozeb told reports that many of these individuals are in the US. to support their families.

“You have... people who are super drunk or just people who just are looking for problems," Mozeb said. "There’s weeks where you have [issues] three times a week. Two times a week."

At a recent news conference, the Yemini American Merchants Association called on leaders to support the safety and security of bodega workers.

“We have members in our membership that are asking themselves in the morning, 'Am I going to come home tonight?' That should not be a question that any bodega worker or owner should be asking themselves,” Dr. Debbie Almontaser said at the news conference.

Despite the high crime, there are some bodega workers who feel more comfortable working behind the counter.

“I feel like New York has always had its height of crime and then lows of crime,” said Samir Ali.

The threat many bodega workers face was highlighted in 2022 when Jose Alba was forced to defend himself from an attacker in his shop. The assailant was killed, and Alba faced prosecution until an uproar from the community prompted the district attorney’s office to drop the charges.

Taking into account increased crime rates and the local government’s failure to address the issue, it is not surprising that more bodega workers are choosing to arm themselves. It demonstrates that these individuals are waking up to the reality that the government can’t protect them from imminent danger, and they are taking responsibility for safeguarding their lives and property.