Posted on 09/01/2005 7:16:17 AM PDT by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Okay, sorry for the off-topic rant. I'll go now and gas up my car at over 3 and drive the suddenly quiet southwestern streets.
It's all over the place.
In situations like this, you can easily remove many people from the "I'd trust them at my back in times of trouble" list.
Now you can understand why the Klan was formed.... The Govt cannot be trusted to protect you and your family....
"You don't know what you would do in the same situation."
This is similar to the "Everybody does it!" defense used by Dumbocrats back in `98-`99 when Slick William was caught with his pants down. Again.
Nope, sorry. Not everyone is a looter or serial adulterer. (The Dums don't give their fellow Americans much credit . . .)
I keep getting the idea that there is one set of laws for people who "always obey the laws and still another for people who seldom obey.
I saw some reports about 2 female officers with a cart or carts full of shoes and wondered about that.
Later the evening paper had picture of people in NO shelters using cardboard and rubber bands to protect their feet a little.
I sure as heck wouldn't want to be wading around in flood waters barefoot or in flip flops.
Me, I would have walked or tried swimming my way about by now
I am just asking the question. I approve of shooting on site, although I thought it was illegal to shoot someone to protect property. Lethal force can only be used to protect yourself from harm.
One platoon would be a nice gesture.
The Govenor should have called out the National Guard on Saturday. They knew this storm was headed for them and they - both the Govenor and Mayor of NO weren't prepared or capable (and still aren't) to handle this situation.
Mobs will do that if they figure that they can loot and not end up dead in doing so.
Yeah but they have to replace it with $71/bbl gas. In that business you have to charge for the next tank load, not the last one.
With regard to the 19th century Klan, there may be a grain of truth to your statement. With regard to the 20th century Klan, it is utter balderdash.
I hope the residents of certain areas of Kaleefornia are taking this in, especially "liberal" areas. The criminal street gangs are well armed and could quickly organize to take over vast areas in a natural disaster. An unarmed citizen is a dead one, or a sex toy.
"and we're going to stop it right now,"
Why does that ring hollow like a Kofi Annan ultimatum?
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stuartcr - I do not agree. I do not think that someone coming out of Best Buy with an armful of DVDs, is going to hamper rescue operations.
Do you still think so?
"Lethal force can only be used to protect yourself from harm."
Speak for your own state.
Many states have a more enlightened view.
"It's amazing, the number of things you see to shoot when you don't have a gun."
---A close friend.
Fortunately I haven't seen any of those posts; hopefully they're in the distinct minority.
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