SAF FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST NEW ORLEANS POLICE CHIEF’S PLAN TO GRAB GUNS

Second Amendment Foundation ^ | 6/5/2006 | Second Amendment Foundation

[nralife]

NEWS RELEASE

Second Amendment Foundation

12500 NE Tenth Place  • Bellevue, WA   98005
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SAF FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST NEW ORLEANS POLICE CHIEF’S PLAN TO GRAB GUNS

For Immediate Release:   6/5/2006

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is calling upon U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley over his announcement last week that police in his city would once again confiscate privately-owned firearms in the event of another catastrophic storm like Hurricane Katrina.

During a live interview with a New Orleans radio station, Riley acknowledged that citizens may, under state law, carry firearms. He said, however, that police will confiscate firearms, and may arrest people, arguing that “During an exigent circumstance like that, we cannot allow people to walk the street carrying guns.”

Last summer, SAF was joined by the National Rifle Association in a federal lawsuit against post-Hurricane Katrina gun seizures. That successful lawsuit in federal district court resulted in a restraining order, and subsequent injunction.

“We believe Riley’s decision is a flagrant disregard of the federal court action, Louisiana state law and both the Louisiana and federal constitutional protections of the right to keep and bear arms,” Gottlieb said in his letter to Gonzales.

“We’re writing to General Gonzales in an effort to prevent Riley and officers under his command from committing the same egregious civil rights violations they did last year,” Gottlieb explained. “It is outrageous that Riley would plan such actions when he knows they violate both state law and the state and federal constitutions. His claim that ‘exigent circumstances’ would allow such confiscations is preposterous.

“We are forced to address this issue to Attorney General Gonzales because we know that anti-gun Mayor Ray Nagin would never tell Riley to belay that order, nor would the mayor fire Riley for willfully violating the firearms civil rights of his constituents,” he said.

“Misuse of police power is a serious matter,” Gottlieb said. “Nowhere in America can a police official violate the civil and constitutional rights of citizens within his jurisdiction under the color of law. We find it necessary to keep reminding administrators like Riley that this is still the United States, not a police state.”

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nations oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

-END-

[kinoxi]

'if you've got a legal firearm surrender it now, if you've got an illegal one...'

[NonValueAdded]

bump

[CrawDaddyCA]

While I admire the SAF, this is a waste of time. The Feds knew perfectly well that guns were being taken away from citizens, the National Guard assisted in it. And not one finger was lifted to stop it. So much for a Republican majority that was going to repeal the thousands of illegal gun laws on the books.

[Sam Cree]

Don't worry everyone, the president is on this. /sarc.

[CrawDaddyCA]

Sorry, posted to the wrong person.

[RedMonqey]

Nothing to worry about.


As we all saw the police and other civil authority had everything well in order......



......snicker snicker.....

[kinoxi]

I try to fix things whenever possible. It involves accurately analyzing the problem first on most occasion. I don't see how loosening gun laws during a time of anarchy helps law abiding citizens. Please enlighten me.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Instead of confiscating firearms that people are carrying LAWFULLY.

He should be deputizing them and restoring order after his cowardly police force abandons their post.

[CrawDaddyCA]

I don't see how loosening gun laws during a time of anarchy helps law abiding citizens. Please enlighten me.

It's not about loosening gun laws, it's about adhering to the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Part of the Constitution (US and Louisiana's) that all 'public servants' swear an oath to abide by and protect. Disarming citizens at a time when they need their guns most is not only illegal, it's immoral.

[TheKidster]

If there are no cops around or they are all busy grabbing loot at the Walmart or fleeing to Houston then who is going to protect you, your property and your family against criminals running around in a time of anarchy?
The answer is the same that it has always been throughout history, you!
99.9% of us don't have the luxury of armed guards to protect us.
The criminals aren't constrained by gun laws, they are criminals and don't follow the laws. "Loosening gun laws" isn't going to do a thing to increase the threat of a gun crime. Restricting the ability to defend one's property, self and family by violating the 2nd amendment WILL increse the threat.

There were and are plenty of good LEO's in New Orleans but they can't be at the side of each and every citizen 24/7, 365 days per year, especially in disaster conditions. It's impossible and unfair to expect that. We are largely the masters of our own destinies here in the US and after Katrina we should all be accutely aware that the Govt. will not, cannot, and usually isn't interested in taking care of us.

[kinoxi]

Where did i imply disarming citizens?

[kinoxi]

Legal gun owners still possess their guns. What are you arguing against?

[CrawDaddyCA]

Where did i imply disarming citizens?

You did not...I guess I've been staring at the screen too long.

[kinoxi]

Your sarcasm is appreciated sir.
:)

[TheKidster]

I don't see how loosening gun laws during a time of anarchy helps law abiding citizens.

I think you are approaching this problem from the wrong perspective. There really shouldn't be ANY laws restricting the GOD given right to self defense of law abiding citizens. This isn't a case of loosening any laws, it's a case of unlawfully (on the part of a state official) increasing already overly burdensome restrictions on the 2nd amendment rights. It effectively takes away a citizen's last line of defense during one of the most dangerous and vulnerable times. When the whole infrastructure has collapsed, calling 911 and waiting for a cop to show up leaves the realm of absurdity and moves deep into the realm of impossibility.

[kinoxi]

The laws exist though. I approach this issue from this perspective.

[TheKidster]

In the aftermath of the disaster, the LEO's and National Guard actively went door to door and took the guns away out of the hands of law abiding citizens. During this time there was a video that was circulated that showed the a 200 pound cop tackle and disarm an old lady in her own home because she refused to give up her gun. AN OLD LADY we're not talking about a thug running in the streets with a gat sticking out of his waist band. They actually were ordered to and some did go from house to house and confiscated people's firearms. Some legal owners do possess thier guns now because they had to sue in court to force the city to give them back! Others were lost or misplaced after being unlawfully confiscated (the nicer more expensive weapons)

If Americans won't argue that this extreme abuse of power displayed is unacceptable then we can kiss our freedom goodbye.

[kinoxi]

Show me evidence of LEOs confiscating legal weapons. I've been to NO since it happened and know better...

[TheKidster]

There were also once laws that established slavery in some communities. These laws were thrown out eventually because they violated the GOD given rights of black people to live in freedom.

The same applies to some laws that restrict a person's ability to defend his life, property and family.

What happened in N.O. wasn't enforcement of a law but twisting of an already unconstitutional aspect of a state constitution.