Posted on 09/08/2005 3:40:23 PM PDT by RDTF
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, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.
But that order apparently does not apply to the hundreds of security guards whom businesses and some wealthy individuals have hired to protect their property. The guards, who are civilians working for private security firms like Blackwater, are openly carrying M-16's and other assault rifles. Mr. Compass said 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 police received only 10 calls for service, a police spokesman said.
The city's slow recovery is continuing on other fronts as well, local officials said at a press conference late this morning. Pumping stations are now operating across much of the city, and many taps and fire hydrants have water pressure. Also, tests have shown no evidence of cholera or other dangerous diseases in flooded areas, though health officials have said the waters contain levels of E. coli bacteria and lead 10 times higher than what is considered safe.
Efforts to recover corpses have also started, although only a handful of bodies have been recovered so far.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Just saw this on ABC news...they are taking guns away from Americans in their own homes! And I'm not talking about gang members. This doesn't sit well with me.
What??
I thought there was no declaration of marshal law?
So, there is no Second Amendment in New Orleans?
Not good. Not good at all.
Is this even legal?
ESPECIALLY registered firearms!
What was that Charleton Heston said, "out of my cold dead hands?"
Things must be proceeding nicely if this is the worst the NYSlimes can make it sound.
Time for a cold dead hand uprising or something, this is nuts.
including legally registered firearms, from civilians in preparation for a mass forced evacuation of the residents still living here.
If Eddie Compass was Ecru, they would be calling for him to resign.
those are the guns they are taking.
La has the concealed gun law that allows people to carry guns.
The police state has begun.
Wait a minuite, stop the presses, the NYT is coming out supporting a pro firearm stance!
The criminals will be happy. However, if ever a place warranted martial law, NOs at this time does.
The people they showed were in their own homes with guns for their own protection. Not only did they tell them to leave but the took their guns! Okay, my blood pressure is going up right now. It's the Nat'l Guard or military that is doing this.
These j@ck@$$e$ were concerned about being sued if they issued a mandatory evacuation order. Didn't they think about the liability they have created for themselves by violating people's Second Amendment and Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights?
This action, if those whose weapons are being confiscated sue, all but guarantees the death of New Orleans -- so I guess there is a silver lining in every cloud system including a Category V hurricane.
Ummm...No! Not unless Blanco dclared martial law or a state of emergency or whatever it's called in Louisiana.
Yeah, I'll bet they don't. If a Blackwater Security Guard and a New Orleans Keystone Cop got into a shooting match, guess who would come out on the short end? It is a lot easier to take guns from grannies and old men. More damn feel-good politics without doing anything to address the root causes of the lawlessness-- looters and other assorted scumbags allowed to roam about with impunity.
I seriously doubt it.
I wouldn't give up mine.
Ping...2nd Amendment Sister alert
So you can bear arms to protect someone else's property, but not your own? If someone hires armed guards to protect their house, do they still go to the house and confiscate the owner's weapons?
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