New Orleans Begins Confiscating Firearms as Water Recedes

The New York Times ^ | Sept 8, 2005 | ALEX BERENSON and TIMOTHY WILLIAMS

[Jack Black]

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 8 - Waters were receding across this flood-beaten city today as police officers began confiscating weapons, including legally registered firearms, from civilians in preparation for a mass forced evacuation of the residents still living here.

No civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns or other firearms, said P. Edwin Compass III, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.

But that order apparently does not apply to hundreds of security guards hired by businesses and some wealthy individuals to protect property. The guards, employees of private security companies like Blackwater, openly carry M-16's and other assault rifles. Mr. Compass said that he was aware of the private guards, but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons.

Nearly two weeks after the floods began, New Orleans has turned into an armed camp, patrolled by thousands of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, as well as National Guard troops and active-duty soldiers. While armed looters roamed unchecked last week, the city is now calm. No arrests were made on Wednesday night or this morning, and the police received only 10 calls for service, a police spokesman said.

[Freebird Forever]

But instead of 'organization', I would substitute 'co-ordinated'. Organization implies a central locus. Organized operates more like the Internet.

Fully concur.

A thousand Bravehearts are better than one.

[xzins]

Confiscating guns is unconstitutional/illegal.

[backhoe]

Just FYI:

 Holdouts to Be Removed From New Orleans -- "They shot our dogs!" Miller, a 54-year-old housewife, said --

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481470/posts?page=247#247

-- at least in St. Bernard Parish, police are now shooting people's animals right in front of them, if the people will not evacuate.

[Thunder90]

don't forget about the BATF!

[El Gato]

Did they declare martial law? If not, they have no authority to do so.

Declaring Martial Law, or a state of emergency, does not negate the State or United States Constitution. Both protect the right of people (or citizens) to keep and bear arms. The latter declares it shall not be infringed, the former that it shall not be abridged.

[El Gato]

The NRA has warned of this for decades...................................

And now they are