Illegal Katrina Gun Siezures

Jiro

Jiro

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NRA to settle suit over Katrina gun seizures

City officials to return hundreds of weapons confiscated during hurricane

NEW ORLEANS - City officials have agreed to return hundreds of firearms that police officers confiscated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, part of a deal to resolve a lawsuit filed by gun lobbying groups.

The settlement agreement filed Tuesday in federal court calls for the National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation to drop their case if the city follows a plan for returning guns to owners who had them seized by police after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.

Both sides also are asking U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier to sign off on the pact and issue a permanent injunction barring the city from seizing lawfully possessed firearms. Barbier didn't immediately rule on the agreement, which doesn't involve a monetary award.

Police department spokesman Bob Young said it has stored 552 guns that were confiscated after Katrina, through Dec. 31, 2005. Police have said they only took guns that were stolen or found in abandoned homes.

The agreement calls for the city to post a notice on its Web site that explains how gun owners can claim their firearms.

Gun owners must sign an affidavit claiming ownership of a gun but don't need to present written proof, such as a sales receipt or serial number. A background check also is required to certify that someone claiming a gun can legally possess a firearm.

The city won't be liable if a dispute arises over the ownership of a returned gun. Authorities can dispose of any guns that go unclaimed after two years.

"This is all we've wanted all along: a practical return program," said NRA lawyer Stephen Halbrook, who estimated that the department should have 1,200 guns available for owners to claim.

"I think it satisfies all our concerns," said Dave Workman, a spokesman for the Bellevue, Wash.-based Second Amendment Foundation. "The city for way too long has been dragging its feet on this. We're glad it's over and we can move on to other issues."

Getting the word out
Young said the department "will do everything possible to notify people that their guns are available for pickup."

In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number. Halbrook, however, said few people could present proof of ownership after Katrina, which flooded 80 percent of the city.

Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley were defendants in the case, which was scheduled to be tried next month.

In their lawsuit, the gun lobbying groups accused the city of violating gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms and leaving them "at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals" after Katrina.

In response, the city argued that federal law doesn't apply to the plaintiffs' claims against city officials "because the right to keep and bear arms has never been recognized as a fundamental individual right."
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IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!
 
Yep, I agree that it is about time! :lol: They shouldn't have done that in the first place.
 
Maria said:
Yep, I agree that it is about time! :lol: They shouldn't have done that in the first place.
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Actually I disagree because of this one sentence that stood out:

Police have said they only took guns that were stolen or found in abandoned homes.
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Secondly the city of NO had attempted to reunite guns with their owners as it states this:

In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number.
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I think that the NRA and gun rights advocates get a little 'trigger-happy' when things don't to go their way. :roll:

Besides it no secret that the city of NO actually had a program in place and when they get sued by the same group that they are attempting to assist--they will drag their feet.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Actually I disagree because of this one sentence that stood out:



Secondly the city of NO had attempted to reunite guns with their owners as it states this:



I think that the NRA and gun rights advocates get a little 'trigger-happy' when things don't to go their way. :roll:

Besides it no secret that the city of NO actually had a program in place and when they get sued by the same group that they are attempting to assist--they will drag their feet.
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So, are you tellin' me that you are against American citizens to bear arms for self-defense and protection ? FYI, I support NRA.
 
Maria said:

So, are you tellin' me that you are against American citizens to bear arms for self-defense and protection ? FYI, I support NRA.
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I support NRA within reason.

I pointed out some points that the city of NO attempted to reunite guns with their rightful owners.

I agree with the city of NO in confiscating stolen and abandoned guns. At least they didn't go into the wrong hands.
 
Byrdie714 said:
I support NRA within reason.

I pointed out some points that the city of NO attempted to reunite guns with their rightful owners.

I agree with the city of NO in confiscating stolen and abandoned guns. At least they didn't go into the wrong hands.
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you know that's not true. They had a list of gun owners' addresses. They knocked on private citizens' homes and confiscated it from their hands with force and threat of arrest.
 
Maria said:

So, are you tellin' me that you are against American citizens to bear arms for self-defense and protection ? FYI, I support NRA.
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I'm a member of NRA :cool2: but I wasn't pleased with its aggressive negative campaign about Obama.
 
Jiro said:
you know that's not true. They had a list of gun owners' addresses. They knocked on private citizens' homes and confiscated it from their hands with force and threat of arrest.
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Marshall outlaw, yes ?
 
Jiro said:
you know that's not true. They had a list of gun owners' addresses. They knocked on private citizens' homes and confiscated it from their hands with force and threat of arrest.
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Do you have a link providing the claim in the bold?

Secondly--yes they had the addresses of the gun owners and remember that the whole city was evacuated and there was no way in telling where everyone went too.
 
Jiro said:
I'm a member of NRA :cool2: but I wasn't pleased with its aggressive negative campaign about Obama.
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Oh, that's cool! I am glad you are a member of NRA. I support NRA myself, but I am not a member of NRA.

About Obama: I know. :)
 
Byrdie714 said:
Do you have a link providing the claim in the bold?
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Remember Patricia Konie?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIc6xXXkFi4"]Patricia Konie[/ame]

And what is this decree ordered by New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass on September 8th?
No one will be able to be armed. Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.
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As the result of this outrageous illegal gun seizure that was carried out without warrants...
Louisiana legislator Steve Scalise introduced Louisiana House Bill 760, which would prohibit confiscation of firearms in a state of emergency, unless the seizure is pursuant to the investigation of a crime, or if the seizure is necessary to prevent immediate harm to the officer or another individual. On June 8, 2006, HB 760 was signed into law. 21 other states joined Louisiana in enacting similar laws. A federal law prohibiting seizure of lawfully held firearms during an emergency, the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006, passed in the House with a vote of 322 to 99, and in the Senate by 84-16. The bill was signed into law by President Bush on October 9, 2006.
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Byrdie714 said:
Secondly--yes they had the addresses of the gun owners and remember that the whole city was evacuated and there was no way in telling where everyone went too.
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simple - announce it in press conference... which they never did. the guns were left to rot.

do you need more proof, Byrdie? :cool2:
 
Oh, ugh at NOPD, NO is very liberal city that what I know.

They supposed not seizure any citizen's guns because of hurricane or emergency.
 
Jiro said:
Remember Patricia Konie?

Patricia Konie

And what is this decree ordered by New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass on September 8th?


As the result of this outrageous illegal gun seizure that was carried out without warrants...



simple - announce it in press conference... which they never did. the guns were left to rot.

do you need more proof, Byrdie? :cool2:
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Good stuff Jiro but you have to remember it wasn't a law before.

ANytime authorities have a direct order and you refuse to comply--you will be handled with severe consequence.

All Patricia Konie was doing was acting like a DOMESTIC DISSENT! :mad:

Secondly after people started to return....

In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number
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Byrdie714 said:
Good stuff Jiro but you have to remember it wasn't a law before.

ANytime authorities have a direct order and you refuse to comply--you will be handled with severe consequence.

All Patricia Konie was doing was acting like a DOMESTIC DISSENT! :mad:

Secondly after people started to return....
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actually no. You do not have to comply with authorities' illegal orders. Yes you're right that you will be handled with severe consequence for failing to obey the order. But then... in the end - the city will end up paying for million dollars lawsuit settlements and possible criminal charge against officers (in most cases - the officers were removed from law enforcement).

Again - you're right. even if their order was illegal, it's best to comply now and talk later with lawyer. Better than broken arm, right? but I think i will prefer broken arm... I could use million dollars lawsuit settlement :deal:
 
Jiro said:
actually no. You do not have to comply with authorities' illegal orders. Yes you're right that you will be handled with severe consequence for failing to obey the order. But then... in the end - the city will end up paying for million dollars lawsuit settlements and possible criminal charge against officers (in most cases - the officers were removed from law enforcement).

Again - you're right. even if their order was illegal, it's best to comply now and talk later with lawyer.
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Yep....Law & Order.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Yeah and remember that it is going to be your word against theirs. And who usually wins? :cool2:
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:werd: I'm just glad that everybody's got video capability in their cellphones. thanks god for YouTube! She's lucky to have camera crew there to capture everything. I'm just glad now that the government can no longer seize the guns in case of disaster.
 
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