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.

[tacticalogic]

Okay, they'll get paid for their belongings, but what about their stuff? I know of a guy who has a really expensive Blues record collection, it's stored on the 2nd floor, and hence should be safe, but will they just come in and bulldoze his restaurant and house to the ground, and "oh well, your SOOL"?

I think they'll do whatever they think they can get away with.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

The folks in NO are over reacting. They don't need guns. The police will protect them.

</sarcasm>

[cmotormac44]

this is your future for owning a legal firearm under any "rat" government----vot 'rat' at your peril--"this is not a drill"

[jwalsh07]

The words "martial law" do not appear in Louisiana's Constitution or code. Nor do they appear in the US Constitution or code. Tough to declare something that doesn't exist.

[GOP_1900AD]

This thread is rapidly devolving into "Beast Government" / "NWO" paranoia. Our enemies can tweak other types of extremists besides MoveOn, then exploit the situation, if you get my drift. In any case, extremists being tweaked can actually become somewhat of a self fulfilling prophecy and end up ultimately attacking our freedoms.

[Black Tooth]

I remember that. The Korean storeowners banded together atop their stores and defended it like Fort Apache.

Yes, Los Angeles 92 riots, but it wasn't just the Koreans. I vividly recall seeing hundreds of blacks, whites, Koreans, Mexicans etc on their rooftops of their homes, businesses, and groups of neighbors, fully armed standing in their driveways etc.

Seeing those sites gave me more confidence in America than I think *anything* I have ever witnessed.

[Congressman Billybob]

I said in plain English that I had "heard that martial law had been declared." I also said "I have not seen that confirmed." And I said that what is being done now is only constitutional "if martial law has been declared."

Hell, I know what the Constitution says. I know as well as anyone that only martial law, declared in accord with the US and Louisiana constitutions, can trump the Bill of Rights for American citizens. That, or taking up arms against the government, which I do NOT, EVER say that this citizens in their homes are doing.

John

[chudogg]

At this time it should be only gangbangers left. Law abiding citizens should have left long after the MANDATORY evacuation, or even before the hurricane hit for that matter.

[WillMalven]

You know less than nothing.

Try this on for size jerk.

http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/malven/2005/09/what-michael-moore-and-liberals-dont.html

[TXBubba]

At this time it should be only gangbangers left. Law abiding citizens should have left long after the MANDATORY evacuation, or even before the hurricane hit for that matter.

Yeah right, whatever floats your boat. (No pun intended.)

[Paulus Invictus]

Nope, and the Constitution doesn't work there either. By law, people cannot be evicted from their homes for these pretenses (as per Judge Napolitano, the legal eagle). Taking their arms is also illegal.

[GOP_1900AD]

Ashrcroft's DOJ wrote a definitive statement that in no uncertain terms, the rights of law abiding, non felon individuals to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. They put to bed the arguments set forth by the gun grabbers. Bush is an NRA member.

[BlackjackPershing]

Where is the NRA? File a suit against them to stop the confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens!

[Revel]

"And where is Mayor Moonbat today?"

I think the CIA finaly got him...LOL

[57chevypreterist]

Amen! Get those do-nothings at the NRA to DO SOMETHING. Get a judge to issue an injunction!

[Sloth]

The words "martial law" do not appear in Louisiana's Constitution or code. Nor do they appear in the US Constitution or code. Tough to declare something that doesn't exist.

Exactly right. The only Constitutional provisions I can find that even vaguely seem to refer to a restriction of rights in emergency situations are:

The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. -- Article I: Section 9

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. -- Amendment III

Obviously neither of these has anything to do with either seizing guns or any broad "martial law."

[JamminJAY]

Guess big bro will take their stockpile of food and water next.

The "official" would have a bad day around me on the gun issue.

Glad I'm in Florida, what a bunch of feel-good maroons. I guess the bloods and cripts do own N.O.

[Hank Rearden]

Ashrcroft's DOJ wrote a definitive statement that in no uncertain terms, the rights of law abiding, non felon individuals to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. They put to bed the arguments set forth by the gun grabbers. Bush is an NRA member.

So, what's Bush's administration doing to stop this gun confiscation? Anything?

[Stew Padasso]

"At this time it should be only gangbangers left. Law abiding citizens should have left long after the MANDATORY evacuation, or even before the hurricane hit for that matter."

Well, from what I have been reading there is a portion of NO that is not underwater, passable and safe for the homeowners. There is no reason to go in and make these people leave. I sure wouldn't.

[penowa]

"3. The upper class and businesses that can afford private security can still protect their property by hiring armed guards."

The local cops who are disarming everyone but the private security that is guarding the property of the upper class and businesses has more than likely been told to leave them alone. They are the people who pay the taxes (and their salaries) and keep the city from going under (and of course, pay all the bribes to the politicians.)