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.

[mewzilla]

Like the "new" gun owners. Well, possession is nine tenths of the law, right?

[Nov3]

Big Deal. They have no more right to a gun than I do.

[Nov3]

It was a great idea these forced evacs right Gramma?

[tarheelswamprat]

So I guess no Mardi Gras next year.

Not at all. The Caesars knew they had to entertain and placate the mob to stay in power.

[Right Wing Assault]

I mean . . . is this how we "look for survivors'?

That must be one of them new camera guns, eh?

[xcamel]

I guess RKBA now means the Right to Konfiscate and Burn Arms

[Reagan Man]

I say the Second Amendment is, in order of importance, the first amendment. It is America's First Freedom, the one right that protects all of the others. Among freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, of assembly, of redress of grievances, it is the first among equals. It alone offers the absolute capacity to live without fear. The right to keep and bear arms is the one right that allows "rights" to exist at all."

Charlton Heston, Former NRA President

[streetpreacher]

Test: Can you still reply to a deleted post?

[verity]

Flunk geography?

[RightWhale]

One common thread through all this is that nobody at any level is explaining where they get their authority to do anything. They are making it all up on the fly. The only ones talking are the dim Dems, and they don't state their authority either.

[dimquest]

Congressman Billybob wrote:

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.

---

" --- While martial law has not been imposed, a state of emergency has been declared in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, signaling that some civil liberties, such as the right to congregate, may be limited because of extreme conditions."

http://slate.msn.com/toolbar.aspx?action=read&id=2125584

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The "extreme conditions" in New Orleans do not justify the confiscation of weapons from residents on their private property.

State & local authorities are exceeding their constitutional powers, and will [hopefully] pay the political price.
105 dimquest

---

Exqueeze me? Without federal martial law, this is Constitutional?
114 mewzilla

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That's what the author, [and probably most 'States Rights' advocates] would claim.. I disagree.

---

Care to comment on the above Billybob?

[NonValueAdded]

Moot point, the Louisiana constitution repeats the Second Amendment in a clear, unambiguous style. Article 1, section 11:

§11. Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Section 11. The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person.

At most, they could suspend concealed carry but that depends on whether or not they actually passed such a law.

[verity]

Refill your meds.

[Sir Gawain]

We can't let this stand.

[thoughtomator]

If something similar had happened to the Left, the ACLU would have already sued to stop it. Where's our troops on the legal battlefield?

[Liberty Valance]

Will the legal owners be able to get them back once martial law has been lifted or is that a stupid question?
One would think the 80% of folks who evacuated before the storm took theirs with them.

[AliVeritas]

Was it a press conference? If not, how was it spun?
Go check WWLTV, live stream site. Let me know, I will be digging elsewhere.

[RDTF]

Ok - But don't call these guys wannabees unless you know what you are talking about. Many people here will be offended.

[Congressman Billybob]

Don't be foolish. Until and unless the US Supreme Court decides to enforce the Second Amendment, the "gun control" laws across the US will remain legal. Until then, the "gun permit" laws will survive as is. This discussion is about martial law in New Orleans, not about constitutional incompetence on the Court.

I think most of the people I'll count on if I run in 2006 will be able to tell the difference between the subject under discussion, and another subject that is not currently on the table. LOL.

John

[Nov3]

Many people here will be offended.

Like I GAF.