The state of emergency should have been immaterial to a basic right like the 2'nd ammendment. The constitution and our basic form of government would not have come into being without the gaurantee of those rights. "Rescinding" one of them is not legally possible; it amounts to reneging on a contract and in theory should break the contract.
http://www.gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=248
Louisiana has been and still is under a state of emergency since Katrina
“Firearms were confiscated by force of law and military power.”
I submit that the confiscations were under “color of law” and not through the force of actual law.
If you ask me, in a State of Emergency when dissaray of people and rioting/looting is going on... that when I want my gun the most.
It was impossible to know who was in charge at that time. NOLA lost 1200 officers almost immediately out of a force of around 1400. Many police officers came in from out of state and proceeded to terrorize citizens who were trying to protect their homes. This was especially true of the police from Michigan and California who answered to no one. Thee were others as well - some could never be identified because they didn’t wear standard issue uniforms. Only when the National Guard came into the area did the cops start to back off on preying on the people. Everyone should read the book “The Great New Orleans Gun Grab” to see what happens when cops go out of control. http://www.amazon.com/Great-New-Orleans-Gun-Grab/dp/0970981333
People could rightfully have fired upon these storm troopers, but didn't.
The city was sued for violating the citizens’ rights. Nagin ordered teh chief of police to lie about the confiscations and lie about them being in the possession of the city.
Eventually SOME of the owners got their guns back but some still have not claimed their firearms.
The local authorities immediately blocked access from Interstate 10 and other highways to these communities, except in some cases for residents returning to assess and mitigate damage. The local Sheriff's Dept. and Police did an outstanding job of patrolling and protecting property. One department took the night shift and one took the day shift. At night, helicopters were overhead with night vision equipment. Consequently there weren't many problems. The problems that did occur were dealt with swiftly.
I was allowed in to secure my property. I had all of the equipment necessary...generator, chainsaw, food, water, tarps, etc.
You better believed that I was armed...45 auto on my hip and 12 gauge shotgun nearby. After what happen in New Orleans, we were not taking any chances. After the streets were cleared and the local police were able to better patrol, no attempts were made to disarm citizens. I remained armed and had police wave and smile at me as they drove by.
As a side note, the Ohio National Guard came to assist. For the first few days, they were heavily armed. I imagine they were thinking about the crap that happened in New Orleans. After those first few days, a seldom saw a Guardsman armed with M4s or M16s...they appeared more relaxed. I think they realized that southwest Louisiana was not going to be another New Orleans.
As far as New Orleans goes, I feel badly the way honest armed citizens were treated. I feel the New Orleans government is useless...you can have New Orleans. I'll never go there again.