[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

[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.

[Revel]

Amoung other things...You are having a wet dream if you think these people will ever get there weapons back. Chances are that no record of the confiscation is even being kept. Good luck going up to these people a year from now and saying where is my gun? Can I have it back?

The answer will be...What Gun? No!

[tarheelswamprat]

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

With respect, John, you know this ain't gonna happen.

[Nov3]

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

My God don't you realize you don't need a permit to own a gun. I am glad you just raised money to run for office and didn't actually do it.

[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

---

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

---

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

---

Care to comment on the above Billybob?

[Roamin53]

(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)



A citizen protecting his home is not a potential hostile....even in Iraq they allow civilians to keep an assault rifle for protection. The right to personal weapons for self protection predates the Constitution and the 2nd amendment (and there is a Supreme Court decision that states that). If there was ever a time these people need it , it is in a time of near anarchy when the political powers have failed to protect it's citizens.

[Sam Cree]

"those with permits to own and carry weapons"

As far as I know, in most of America, permits are not required for the ownership of weapons. Or to exercise any other Constitutional rights.

[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.

[El Gato]

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

And if you really believe they will, they must grow better stuff up in those hills than I thought. These people will never see their weapons again. BTW, there are no such permits to own in Louisiana, any more than in Texas. Permits to carry concealed handguns are issued. Not sure about the legality of open carry. No permit required to carry a long gun. That's all from the NRA-ILA summary of LA gun laws.

Apparently the State Constitution has been held to only allow prohibition or licensing of concealed carry.