New Orleans Begins Confiscating Firearms as Water Recedes

Ny Times ^ | September 8 | ALEX BERENSON and TIMOTHY WILLIAMS

[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.

[TXBubba]

Have you seen this yet?

[billnaz]

Democrats are confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens. No surprise there.

[tall_tex]

Can anyone put up or FReepmail me a link to this thread, I have a long list to forward it to.

Thanks in advance.

[dimquest]

mewzilla wrote:

If the federal government thinks this is such a dandy idea, why didn't they do it legally by declaring martial law?

It is extremely doubtful that the feds could constitutionally justify martial law in this situation.

[Graymatter]

Definitely not legal.
They picked a bad day to quit listening to their lawyers.

[Nov3]

This thread ought to be a W#$ Dream for you.

[Congressman Billybob]

Yes, it is legal if, as I understand from a number of sources that martial law has officially been declared in New Orleans.

Martial law, as its name implies, means rule by the military on its own rules of engagement. No military in history has ever taken kindly to potential hostiles carrying weapons in the territory it's trying to quell and control. Nor should it.

Once civilian rule is reestablished, all those with permits to own and carry weapons should get them back, with no charges filed.

John / Billybob

[samadams2000]

This isnt real.

[Sender]

Well the intent was to disarm the looters and snipers, and somebody decided that to do that, they have to disarm all.

The elderly lady that they evicted early today or late yesterday who was on all the news, she was holding her own against the evictors, arguing that she had plenty of food, water etc. It was pretty much a standoff.

Then when trying to convince the cops that she could take care of herself, she mentioned "and I have a gun", so they would know she had self-protection.

That's when they tackled her.

[Nov3]

I have been watching it on TV.

[mewzilla]

I'm not quibbling with the result necessarily, just the method. So state martial law can trump the Constitution? Even something like habeus corpus?

[Nov3]

Yes, it is legal if, as I understand from a number of sources that martial law has officially been declared in New Orleans.

Now I have been away from the TV for several hours but did the Governor declare martial law? Last I heard she wasn't.

[Betis70]

Unbelievable bookmark.

[the Deejay]

Legal or not, they are doing it.

Even more reason the ppl should
pack it in and leave.

Maybe taking their guns, is a
ploy to convince the to leave?

I think if they stay, they may
die slow painful deaths from
sickness & disease. If not
from lack of food & water.

When rescuers have decided
they're through searching,
there will be no more water
and food supplies delivered.
Then how will stayers live?

NO will be a virtual ghost
town and totally uninhabitable
for several months or years to come.

[JOE43270]

That's the way I feel!

[tarheelswamprat]

What in heck's name is really going on down there?

Massive land grab?

Possibly. This disaster has set the perfect stage for a massive application of the recent "Kelo vs New London" eminent domain ruling.

[Nov3]

Even something like habeus corpus?

As I remember suspension of habeus corpus is allowed for in the constitution. I have never seen the precedent for suspension of the RKBA.

[BurbankKarl]

Mayor Nagin rescinds 2nd Amendment in New Orleans

[Nov3]

Do the boots taste good at least?

[mewzilla]

In the federal constitution. I thought federal law trumped state law?