In documents filed in federal court in Baton Rouge, La.,
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Chief Eddie Compass and St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain deny ordering the confiscation of firearms.
But news reports quoted Compass as saying that only law enforcement officials would be allowed to have firearms and Deputy Chief Warren Riley as saying, "We are going to take all the weapons."
This quote supports what one Freeper said here a few days ago about the confiscation. He or she reported that the order was quietly and quickly rescinded due to tremendous private presssure brought on Nagin, et al.
The denial that they ever issued such an order makes it look like they're running for deep cover as fast as they can. It also means the NRA is likely to be able to force them to agree to a consent decree forbidding such action in the future. After all, if they say they never did it when there's video evidence that they did, they've got to stop digging the hole deeper for themselves. Agreeing to a consent decree is the way to do that.
GO NRA!!!
Source:
The Cybercast News Service
http://www.cnsnews.com/
Judge Issues Restraining Order Against New Orleans Gun Seizures
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200509\NAT20050923d.html
By Melanie Hunter CNSNews.com Senior Editor
September 23, 2005
(CNSNews.com) - A federal judge Friday issued a temporary restraining order on behalf of two Second Amendment rights groups ending the seizure of firearms from citizens in and around New Orleans.
Video: Citizens Handcuffed, Forced To Give Up Firearmshttp://www.gunowners.org/abcnews.mpg
U.S. District Judge Jay Zaney issued the restraining order against those named in a lawsuit brought by the Second Amendment Foundation and the National Rifle Association, which include New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief Edwin Compass III.
"This is a great victory, not just for the NRA and SAF, but primarily for law-abiding gun owners everywhere," said SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb. "We are proud to have joined forces with the NRA to put an end to what has amounted to a warrantless gun grab by authorities in New Orleans and surrounding jurisdictions."
Gottlieb said not only did residents of New Orleans lose "virtually everything" in Hurricane Katrina, they were also essentially "stripped" of their right to self-defense.
"SAF and NRA had no alternative but to take action," said Gottlieb. Otherwise, the gun seizures "would have set a dangerous precedent that would have encouraged authorities in other jurisdictions to believe they also could suspend the civil rights of citizens in the event of some other emergency."
Gottlieb challenged New Orleans authorities to explain how they will promptly "return all of those firearms to their rightful owners." He said the ruling "affirms is that even in the face of great natural disasters, governments cannot arbitrarily deprive citizens of their rights."
See Earlier Stories:
Second Amendment Groups Move to Stop Gun Seizures (Sept. 22, 2005)
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200509\CUL20050922a.html
New Orleans Gun Seizures Allegedly 'Creating More Victims,' (Sept. 14, 2005)
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200509\NAT20050914a.htmlThe denial that they ever issued such an order makes it look like they're running for deep cover as fast as they can. It also means the NRA is likely to be able to force them to agree to a consent decree forbidding such action in the future. After all, if they say they never did it when there's video evidence that they did, they've got to stop digging the hole deeper for themselves. Agreeing to a consent decree is the way to do that. Is this like a consent decree to stop beating your wife?
A consent decree is not good enough for a willful violation of the Constitutions of both Louisiana and The United States. It's a crime, and they should be punished as an example for the others.