Warning As Mobs Get Bolder

The New York Post ^ | September 1, 2005 | Kevin McGill

[TheForceOfOne]

NEW ORLEANS — Mayor Ray Nagin ordered 1,500 police officers to leave their search-and-rescue mission last night and return to the streets to stop looting that has turned increasingly hostile as the city plunges deeper into chaos.

"They are starting to get closer to heavily populated areas — hotels, hospitals — and we're going to stop it right now," Nagin said.

The number of officers called off the search-and-rescue mission amounts to virtually the entire police force in New Orleans.

The out-of-control thievery had escalated while cops joined National Guardsmen in focusing on saving lives.

In some cases, New Orleans police officers took part in the looting. One cop was seen carting off a computer and a 27-inch flat-screen TV, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Earlier yesterday, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blan- co said she has asked the White House to send more people to help with evacuations and rescues, thereby freeing up National Guardsmen to stop looters.

The looting got worse as people brazenly ran- sacked stores for food, beer, clothing, appliances — and guns.

There have been some citizen-vs.-criminal standoffs, with one shopkeeper posting an ominous sign: "You loot, I shoot."

[flashbunny]

Yes.

The people walking down the street with the TV's and computers yesterday are the some of the ones walking around with guns today.

If they're not, the fact that they were allowed to get away with it emboldened those roving mobs today.

You don't get it, do you?

You know what happens in non-liberal states when hurricanes hit? Like in most parts of florida?

There is an understanding that ANY looters will be shot. Consequently, there is never much looting and what happens DOES NOT get out of hand like it did in NO.

You can ignore reality all you want, but it's reality just the same.

[Dick Bachert]

Thanks!

Standing by for major flaming by those macho 20 somethings.

[Diamond]

think DVDs is stretching 'essentials'...but food and water are fair game.

I've had my eye on getting a large screen HDTV for a while. Do you think they might have any plasmas left there?

Cordially,

[monday]

"A natural disaster like this is a dream come true for the criminals wandering the streets of N.O."

It's pretty obvious that many, perhaps most, of the people who didn't evacuate NO actually planned to use this opportunity to loot.

[stuartcr]

I have spent most of my life in FL. They do not shoot unarmed looters.

[Publius6961]

The guys on the ground are probably the postal employees.

The guys on the ground are the new self-appointed postal workers after they hijacked the truck...

[stuartcr]

Do you believe that they deserve to die?

[undeniable logic]

I know that there is a big difference between taking food, water, or shelter and what we are see on FOX. The looters we are seeing are absolute animals. I was just responding because there has been a small, but vocal group on freerepublic that thinks that people who take food or water should be killed along with the rest of them.

[BadAndy]

"A mob spotted us and came toward us, but they were still almost 100 yards away. A few of them had guns; they appeared to be 38s and 25s. I took the Mini up, with both clips and pointedit at them. Their answer was that we were few and they were many. I shouted that I would fire on them if they came much closer, and that their guns did not have the range. I also stated that before we would go down, many of them would be on their way to Perdition. The mob then changed direction. I gave my friends the option of leaving with me, but they chose to stay. Defense of the building was being organized and some residents had both long and short arms. "

Great story. I remember that blackout well. I was home in Brooklyn visiting from graduate school in another state. The lights went out and the inner city dwellers went nuts. My uncle owned a butcher store in the city and the looting was spreading in his direction. He called to tell us he and some workers were going to defend his store (and implying he could use some help). Myself and a five friends, cousins etc. went to his shop to help guard it and if necessary repel boarders. We were lightly armed (my uncle had a 38 special pistol and a old M1 from when he was in the army (no bullets for the M1). The rest of us had baseball bats, assorted clubs, and cleavers. One guy had a samuri sword. We stood outside the shop all night watching the looters going from store to store on the other blocks. Several times small groups would get near the store and were warned away. At one point a group of them was taunting us from across the street and one of them pointed a revolver in our direction while talking his trash. He left when my buddy pointed the (empty) M1 in his direction. Late in the evening a police car showed up but said they couldn't provide any help. In the end my uncle's store was one of the few in the area that was saved and no one got hurt.

[monday]

"Isn't most of the stuff being "looted" already paid for by the fat insurance settlement the storeowner has probably already filed?"

No. Insurance adjusters are very particular about what they pay for. Only actual damages and losses. No guessing.

I am curious though. If it was, are you saying that that would excuse the looting? Would you be one of those loading up with loot if you were there?

[flashbunny]

Know why?

Because the threat IS there. Spoken or unspoken.

If the leaders of LA would have stated that anybody looting after a mandatory evactuation will be shot, there would be almost zero looting,and fewer people would have been killed by lawlessness. It would also made rescue easier, as less resources would have to been diverted. And people who actually needed food supplies would have had a better chance of getting them through orderly distribution.

Instead, you have chaos.

Your choice.

Play nice with the looters and get chaos, death, destruction.

Get tough and save lives.

Cause and effect.

[sheik yerbouty]

Stores on Utica Ave were burned and looted. Most of the stores on kingston were saved by armed locals. It was a tale of two avenues..

[North Coast Conservative]

Hey Mom!

Some of us Yankees know how to shoot. The result of a Suthen instructor at Parris Island,(Class of October,'66)for sure, but we can shoot and hit the target at 500 yards with iron sights.

Wish I had an M-14 instead of an AR-15, but you have to make do with what ya got.

My wife thought I was absolutely crazy in 2001 when I bought the AR. I think the last few days has changed her mind.

Criticize my biscuits you may, but on the range this is one Damned Yankee who can hold his own.

"Tipping Hat" Have a nice day, Ma'am.

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi!

[America's Resolve]

The stores are unoccupied, all they have in them are ruined pieces of plastic and metal.

Well, if they're all so ruined, why are people stealing them? Like the guy who was caught by a TV news crew with his back seat so full of computers and DVD players that he couldn't even shut his back doors?

You're WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY wrong on this.

looting for food and water is long in the past. What about the nursing home that was looted yesterday with armed thugs yelling to the old people and their caretakers to "Get out! Get out!" so that they could (and did) plunder in private?

What about the hospitals where the Dr's and Nurses are living in fear of their lives because only the bad guys have weapons and the will to use them?

You're little exercise in "compassion" is what led to this situation. Just a little looting for food. Then for water. Then for medicine. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one or two people, it was thousands and tens of thousands that thought that. Then it devolved into liquor and beer.

Then it devolved into weapons to "protect" themselves.

Then when they saw that there were no consequences to looting just a little "food and water", it devolved into a barbaric, "IT'S FREE!" mentality that led us to where we are today.

No consequences and cops openly helping with the looting festivities, and people like you JUSTIFYING the looting have led to the NOLA Police being pulled off of the duties of saving lives and body recovery and having to put down looting "for just food and water", which in the long run will just cost more innocent people their lives.

Your little exercise in "compassion" essentially says, "My family are more important than your family and since I have this here gun, I'll KILL you if I don't get food and water for my family.

YOU are not part of the solution. YOU are part of the problem. How about going away and stop being part of the problem?????

[Publius6961]

You should be able to see this difference.

Were you born dense or have you had to work at it?

What part of progression and escalation of contempt for the law don't you understand?
The innocent, scared, starving, shivering, harmless "little" victim looter of yesterday ---
emboldened and empowered and enabled the armed thugs running loose today.

[Ciexyz]

Lord have mercy!

[ALASKA]

Now you can understand why the Klan was formed.... The Govt cannot be trusted to protect you and your family....

HUH??? Or lynch your negroes?? Are you trying to make a point here?

[AnAmericanMother]

No offense to Yankees who know how to shoot. I should speak more carefully . . . I meant, "Northeastern urban Yankee liberals who were transferred down here to the Southeastern headquarters of their employer and never saw a gun in their lives."

. . . but you know, that takes so long to say! < g >

[dfwgator]

Mogadishu on the Mississippi.

[BedRock]

Did anyone see any of the looters taking chainsaws, rakes, or anything of the like to help with the cleanup efforts???

Just wondering...