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.

[cope85]

watch this one http://edition.cnn.com/video/us/2005/09/09/simon.katrina.new.orleans.forced.evacuations.cnn/relateds.html

[SevenDaysInMay]

It is "under color of law".

Remember the 'Model Health something or another Act' which was pulled off a government lawyer's desk (an oriental American Republican) within days after 9/11 and passed by every state, sometimes late at night - but almost always by voice vote so as to never have any record of our Police State friends act in office? That was THE police state enpowerment act, so officials can violate our RATIFIED CONSTITUTION, under color of law.

There are many statutes on the books passed to be prima facia in direct violation of our RATIFIED CONSTITUION, federal and state, but which are designed to provide "the police powers of the State" with all the "legal" authority tyrants need. Lincoln was such a tyrant against American citizens who disagreed with his war of aggression, other American leaders even in office, and the citizens of the sovereign Confederacy.

Until our First Republic is overthrown at 21st Century Bull Run, we shall defend our Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic so that usurpers know the price of violating our ratified Constitution. No one can assume by nullifying his targetted part of our Constition that he retains any authority of office granted under the same Constitution.

Yes, we're being watched.

[SVTCobra03]

This has really affected my contingency planning for various bugout/bugin scenarios. In a SHTF scenario, what good will it do me to sit in my home with generator, food, water, weapons and ammo if the authorities are going to confiscate my weapons and leave me and my family defenseless?

[all4one]

"Many of the people continuing to stay in New Orleans were told time was running out. Ashton O'Dwyer is an attorney, but says he'll defy any order requiring him to evacuate."

"I will leave when I'm dead. Let them be warned they come to my house to evict me - try to take my guns, there will be gunfire," said O'Dwyer."

Thanks BK...I saw this guy O'Dwyer being interviewed. Nice guy living in his very well appointed home that was not damaged at all...I stand behind him 100% and hope some knuckleheads don't try to mess with him.

[cope85]

check out 661

[CharlesWayneCT]

Sorry, I completely misread your previous post and thought you were saying they should be evacuating them and the surrounding areas.

I apologize, and will sign up for remedial post reading....

[BurbankKarl]

http://cdglobal.net/nola/25022023432.avi

another ABC story of CHP officers taking guns and detaining homeowners...

Police chief quoted as taking all guns.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Right, they are merely confiscating weapons in case they have to force evacuations later.

[El Gato]

including legally registered firearms,

No such thing in Louisiana. Other than National Firearms Act firearms, and their slightly different Louisiana equivalents. Louisiana, like Texas, requires no permit to purchase, nor one to possess, a firearm. They do have a CHL program, but that is a license to carry, and the guns are not registered. (other than on the federal 4473 (?) yellow form.)

Once again the NYT is bloviating about a subject it knows nothing about.

I'll bet they will or have "raided" the gun shops, pawnshops, and WalMart to get those forms. Hopefully in most cases "They were destroyed in the flood".

[editor-surveyor]

"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.

This is just a trial run for the whole country. It'll be interesting to see if people realize what is at stake. There is no longer any reason to evacuate; the water can be sanitized quickly by just going over to Stauffer Chemical Co. and Monsanto Chemical Co. and 'borrowing a few hundred of their 2000 Lb. Chlorine cylinders and feeding the liquid chlorine into the water at the most turbulent areas. The whole town will be as safe as a swimming pool within 10-12 hours.

[El Gato]

Not unless Blanco dclared martial law or a state of emergency or whatever it's called in Louisiana.

It still wouldn't be legal, under either the US or Louisiana Constitutions. Habeas Corpus can be suspended, but the RKBA cannot be.

[G.Mason]

As a request, I post the following for those who have not seen it, or do not believe people are and have been forcibly removed from their home in Louisiana.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481062/posts?page=46#11

Govenment for the people and by the people ...

Build their gallows high

[mewzilla]

Has anyone gotten a statement from the Justice Department on the legality of all this?

[dimquest]

A declaration of 'martial law' suspends the 2nd and allows confiscation? Sorry, but I don't believe that opinion can be supported by referring to our Constitution.
I'd suggest you also do more research on the constitutional aspects of martial law.

I have "done my research" on the constitutional aspects of martial law. Apparently you have not. You should read the Supreme Court decisions on that precise subject during and after the Civil War.

I have. In fact the link I gave you at post #171 refers to those decisions in its conclusions. -- Obviously you did not bother to read it.

As for your other comments, you seem badly confused. ALL laws, on ALL subjects, in ALL jurisdictions remain on the books and are apparently valid, until the authority which passed them, repeals them -- or until a court of competent jurisdiction declares them unconstitutional (under US or state constitutions).

Are you aware that Marshall refuted that authoritarian type argument back in 1803, Marbury v Madison? No one in the USA is bond to obey 'laws' repugnant to the Constitution. In fact officers of the court, like you, are bound by oath to fight such repugnant laws.

This is what it means to call something a "law."
You argue that by pointing this out I somehow agree with or support all such laws. That is abject nonsense.
It's like if I stated the fact that New Orleans has been destroyed by a hurricane you would claim that I "agreed with" or "supported" that result.

You are not stating facts about the law, you are opining about martial law & states rights to confiscate arms.

I cannot make it any plainer than that. Have you got the point now?
John / Billybob

I think everyone, by now, gets your 'point'; - more than you realize. Thanks for helping to make it evident.

[planekT]

...Right, they are merely confiscating weapons in case they have to force evacuations later.....

Oh, that's a relief. (!!!!!!!!!)

[Congressman Billybob]

You are really wasting my time. I've spent 35 years working with constitutional law, and you think I haven't read the cases or don't understand them?

I've concluded that trying to talk with you on this subject is like trying to teach a pig to sing. It annoys the pig, and it wastes your time.

Kindly don't reply in the future to anything I post. I will extend you the same courtesy.

John

[Graymatter]

Any comment from the NRA yet?

[planekT]

I can't do anything with that link. Maybe their server is overloaded at the moment.

[Carry_Okie]

The whole town will be as safe as a swimming pool within 10-12 hours.

We disagree there. The chlorine isn't stable. There are enough stagnant pools (such as inside houses that will drain as the level falls) to re-innoculate whatever you might treat. Needless to say, there is enough food in the water to get it going fairly quickly.

[El Gato]

Is this even legal? - Didn't Stan Kawolski say they use Napoleonic Law

Only in a few areas of law, mostly property law. In fact they use French Napoleonic, Spanish, and US property law, depending on circumstances, such as when the property was first deeded.