Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 08/31/2005 10:41:42 PM PDT by hatfieldmccoy
Disgusted and furious with the lawlessness of looters who have put fear into citizens, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared Martial Law in the city and directed the city's 1,500 person police force to do "whatever it takes" to regain control of the city.
Nagin said that Martial Law means that officers don't have to worry about civil rights and Miranda rights in stopping the looters.
Amid the chaos Wednesday, thieves commandeered a forklift and used it to push up the storm shutters and break the glass of a pharmacy. The crowd stormed the store, carrying out so much ice, water and food that it dropped from their arms as they ran. The street was littered with packages of ramen noodles and other items.
Looters also chased down a state police truck full of food. The New Orleans police chief ran off looters while city officials themselves were commandeering equipment from a looted Office Depot. During a state of emergency, authorities have broad powers to take private supplies and buildings for their use. Managers at a nursing home were prepared to cope with the power outages and had enough food for days, but then the looting began. The Covenant Home's bus driver surrendered the vehicle to carjackers after being threatened.
Bands of people drove by the nursing home, shouting to residents, "Get out!" On Wednesday, 80 residents, most of them in wheelchairs, were being evacuated to other nursing homes in the state.
"We had enough food for 10 days," said Peggy Hoffman, the home's executive director. "Now we'll have to equip our department heads with guns and teach them how to shoot."
Bout time
He should have preemptively ordered martial law before the hurricane hit.
"whatever it takes"? I guess that means shoot to kill?
Pop a few looters and it will stop plenty fast.Word will spread . Get the guys with the TVs first. ANIMALS
has anyone seen or heard from the DA "eddie"im hidding and im a big failure" jordan??
Speaking of a day late...
Ping
This happened about five hours ago.
LOL! All I know is Nagin made some comment on CNN, and no further elaboration.
Some reporters today said that these people were breaking in dead people's houses, crawling right over their bodies, and cleaning them out.
a lot of the looters have more guns than the police. looted gun shops, wal-marts, etc. have had reports of shoot outs with cops.
If Nagin really wanted to help the people of Louisiana he would resign and persuade the useless governor Blanco to resign as well.
That I heard too. That's awful! One reporter said anything that was there to be stolen was stolen.
I know how they can solve two problems at once. Tie concrete around the feet of looters and stuff them in levee breaks.
Tuesday, 9:02 p.m.
The state Attorney General's office on Tuesday sought to clarify reports in some media that "martial law' has been declared in parts of storm-ravaged southeast Louisiana, saying no such term exists in Louisiana law.
But even though no martial law exists, Gov. Kathleen Blanco's declaration of a state of emergency gives authorities widespread latitude to suspend civil liberties as they try to restore order and bring victims to safety. Under the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, the governor and, in some cases, chief parish officials, have the right to commandeer or utilize any private property if necessary to cope with the emergency.
Authorities may also suspend any statute related to the conduct of official business, or any rule issued by a state agency, if complying would "prevent, hinder or delay necessary action'' to mitigate the emergency.
It also gives authority the right to compel evacuations, suspend alcohol and weapons sales and make provisions for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing.
The law gives mayors similar authority, except they do not have the right to commandeer private property or make provisions for emergency housing, according to a background brief prepared by the state Attorney General's office.
This should have been done BEFORE the damned looters got started! This mayor needs to have his butt kicked. Hard.
The street doesn't need electricity to get the word out when looters start getting shot on sight. When lowlife's start seeing other lowlifes heading out of town as fast as possible instead of looting, they will get the message.
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