Forcibly Disarming Law-Abiding Americans

[Paladin]

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/16907.html

"Forcibly Disarming Law-Abiding Americans
August 09, 2006 09:31 PM EST



from CFIF.org

Do you remember when you first saw the desperate images of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, which shocked the entire world? Do you recall the wrenching sense of sympathy as you watched helpless people of all races, ages and incomes trapped amidst the destruction, literally clawing and scratching for their lives, families, pets and homes?

Now imagine yourself trapped in that same apocalyptic helplessness, where calling 911 brings nothing but a ringtone. Imagine the ominous silence hanging in the dead air, with empty streets and nobody to hear your cries for help. Imagine no water, no power, no phone and no police protection. Imagine that you, your family, your home, your pets and your dwindling supplies are at the mercy of roaming thugs.

All you can do is hide in your festering attic or basement, breathe softly, remain silent and pray that you, your family, and your home don't attract the random attention of plundering looters, rapists and violent criminals. You have no idea when or if normalcy or law enforcement authorities will return.

To make matters worse, you now have no firearm to protect yourself, your family or your lifelong possessions. Unfortunately for you, government bureaucrats have ordered law enforcement to go door-to-door and confiscate all of your firearms at gunpoint, leaving you completely helpless.

Think that this can't happen? Think again – it already has.

This exact scenario unfolded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, unbeknownst to most people across the country. New Orleans and other government officials literally ordered reluctant law enforcement officers to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens at gunpoint.

In other words, at the very moment when Second Amendment rights mattered most, when innocent civilians needed firearms for self-protection, government forcibly confiscated them.

This wasn't some foreign tyranny, nor was it some soft socialist European state. It was within the United States of America, where the Constitution explicitly states that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."

For years, gun control activists have condescendingly assured us that "government is not going to knock on doors and take people's guns." But Hurricane Katrina proves otherwise, and illustrates what gun-rights advocates have predicted: that this is precisely what they'll do. As New Orleans Police Superintendent P. Edwin Compass baldly asserted, "no one will be able to be armed. Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns."

Some 33 states currently possess such "emergency powers" laws that limit the possession, transportation and sale of desperately-needed firearms during times of disaster or unrest. Some states even permit authorities to seize firearms from law-abiding citizens, who are rendered defenseless against the very disorder that led to the seizure.

Unfortunately, not a single one of us is immune from this type of scenario, whether you live in an area subject to hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, tsunamis, gas shortages, terrorism, riots, floods, blizzards or crippling disease pandemics.

Still skeptical?

If so, recall the 1992 Los Angeles riots. While entire neighborhoods burned and rampaging reprobates wantonly murdered people and destroyed property, authorities were utterly unable or unwilling to protect law-abiding citizens. Firefighters and police officers refused to enter certain areas to save lives, and rioters controlled large swaths of the city.

Fortunately, some people were prepared to defend themselves. You may recall the television images as Korean-American store owners, specifically targeted by racist rioters, protected their lives and worldly possessions by banding together, arming themselves, and standing atop their rooftops to repel approaching rioters. Police were nowhere to be found – law-abiding citizens were completely on their own. It takes very little imagination to realize what would have happened if authorities had confiscated their firearms, as they did in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Efforts are underway, however, to protect citizens' Second Amendment right to protect themselves, their families and their livelihoods. The National Rifle Association has initiated a campaign calling upon every mayor and police chief in America to sign the following pledge to never forcibly disarm law-abiding citizens:

"A lawful person's right to keep a gun for self-defense shouldn't be revoked due to storm tracks, disease epidemics, tornado paths, flood levels, wildfires, Richter scales, street riots, terrorist events or the impulse of local bureaucrats. We're asking every mayor and police chief to sign this pledge: 'I will never forcibly disarm the law-abiding citizens of my city."

This is a simple pledge to sign, and citizens across America can determine their city officials' stand on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Additionally, pending legislation in several states and within Congress would make it a crime for bureaucrats to endanger law-abiding citizens by forcibly disarming them. At the federal level, H.R. 5013, the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006, and S. 2599 would prevent local authorities from confiscating lawfully-owned firearms during disasters, and guarantee legal recourse for victims of illegal seizures.

No matter where you live, disaster can strike you. Every one of us lives in an area subject to disaster, whether man-made or natural. When such disasters cripple government's fundamental ability to protect its citizens, people must protect themselves. Any government that undermines such self-protection is unworthy of our Constitution.

Accordingly, Americans everywhere must demand that their local, state and federal officials sign the NRA's pledge, and pass the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006.

Your life may someday depend upon it. "

[Madsmiley]

I can only imagine the looks I would have recieved if we were searched during the Katrina evactuation.We had ALL of my collection with us including a loaded M4 and .45 on my person during the 37hr ordeal..

[Diode]

I can only imagine the looks I would have recieved if we were searched during the Katrina evactuation.We had ALL of my collection with us including a loaded M4 and .45 on my person during the 37hr ordeal..

I was unarmed and scared, I will be much better prepared the next time. (Which should be in about 20 years)

[Madsmiley]

I can only imagine the looks I would have recieved if we were searched during the Katrina evactuation.We had ALL of my collection with us including a loaded M4 and .45 on my person during the 37hr ordeal..

I was unarmed and scared, I will be much better prepared the next time. (Which should be in about 20 years)

Im not so sure..I think after the New Orleans ordeal,state and local governments are going to start calling for evacuations at the first sign of trouble..I belive there will be alot more in the future

[cjlandry]

Before Katrina, I only had my Glocks and my 1300 Defender.

During the evacuation I bought an AKM as soon as I heard they were sending evacuees to Corpus Christi.

I have since added a few more military rifles to my collection, along with a decent supply of ammo, in case my neighbors choose to stand beside me in time of need.

[Madsmiley]

Before Katrina, I only had my Glocks and my 1300 Defender.

During the evacuation I bought an AKM as soon as I heard they were sending evacuees to Corpus Christi.

I have since added a few more military rifles to my collection, along with a decent supply of ammo, in case my neighbors choose to stand beside me in time of need.

The wife has family down there..I think next time we will be heading south instead of north..

[Commander]

Currently, the Texas Shelter Plan calls for the disarming of evaucees that come to shelters in Texas. No guns will be allowed in any shelter. They will be confiscated upon arrival.

[stevie_d_64]

This is why we will evacuate, and reside ourselves to the fact that we may come back home to a slab...

Thats ok, it'll be painful, but ok...

Better to remove yourself and your family, under your direct protection, than to remain in an area that will not be able to support you with the basic necessities, unless you are prepared to live like your camping...

There are all sorts of ways to do it, and many here have a plan...

Our plan is not based so much on "stuff", but more on a step by step procedure(s) that are mapped out in two (2) binders with laminated pages with maps, numbers and contingency plans when the main plan gets scrogged...Communications are a key element in the "plan", and if we get separated, we all know what the end goal is...And its only 250 miles away...How you get there is half the fun...

How we protect ourselves is almost a moot point...

One thing that hasn't been discussed is what do you do when you head back???

Very simple...When you come back and are stopped to identify yourself before heading into where your home is and the "authorities" insist on inquiring to firearms in your vehicle...And upon following the notification requirement per the law, and they then insist on disarming you...

I would politely recommend a "no sir" and inform them you are leaving to return to where you evacuated to (if possible) and will wait to return at some other time...No need to get huffy about it, let the burn be on them to figure out what to do...You are no threat to them...

I would venture a good guess that most Texas Law Enforcement would not make an issue out of it and you should be good to go...You are not armed to usurp their commissioned charter to uphold the law...And in most cases a good attitude, and grateful appreciative comment will be welcomed...Its not placating to do so...

But...

What happened in New Orleans was that fact the the L.E. in the affected area was overwhelmed, those L.E. were victims themselves...And when the local and State governmetn decided to welcome and contract out to obtain additional help, it came from other states and municipalities that were not totally up to speed on the eccentricities of the community...

Thus, we saw evidence of the breakdown of authority to the point where it was expiditious to believe that the confiscation of firearms would lead to order...And we saw that it was easier to suppress an elderly woman in her own home armed only with a .38 revolver for protection, by sending in a law enforcement officer from California who had no long term reason to concern himself with the ramifications of that un-Constitutional act, and the rest is history...

I have the upmost respect for everyone in this forum, and my opinion is just that, mine...My premise is that I believe in instances and situations like this, it may be better to reside ourselves that self-preservation over the protection of personal belongings and property might be the prudent action to take...Its painful, but better to be able to feel that kind of pain, and rebuild, than to have to battle chaos, and unreasonable behavior by others...

Believe me though, if cornered...And no way to extract, or remove myself from the situation in a reasonable manner...Its academic...Sad, but academic...

Good luck folks...Plan soon and plan well...

[Mithras61]

Congress Passes NRA-backed “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006”

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Fairfax, VA- The National Rifle Association (NRA) and law-abiding gun owners scored a significant victory yesterday when the United States Congress acted to prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during states of emergency, barring practices conducted by officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This action was included in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that passed both chambers of Congress. This bill now heads to President Bush for his expected signature.

More here: http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsRel ... px?ID=8252

Haven't been able to confirm this on thomas.gov or senate.gov yet, but I can 't imagine the NRA-ILA site posting this without cause...

[Glockamolie]

Yeah. Outta my cold, dead hands. And I won't go down easy.

I hope Texas cops have more sense should this ever come up again.

[flintknapper]

Yeah. Outta my cold, dead hands. And I won't go down easy.

I hope Texas cops have more sense should this ever come up again.

Roger that, 'cause its ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ at my house!