NRA ON THE GROUND IN LOUISIANA

National Rifle Association ^ | September 17th 2005 | Nra Staff

[ExSoldier]

NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 12, No. 37 9/16/05

As was reported last week, in the wake of unspeakable crimes perpetrated by roving, armed gangs and individuals, authorities in New Orleans seized legal firearms from lawful residents, effectively disarming the very citizenry they are sworn to protect.

On Monday, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox slammed New Orleans authorities for this incredible action.

"What we've seen in Louisiana--the breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of disaster--is exactly the kind of situation where the Second Amendment was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves,

" LaPierre said. "For state, local, or federal government to disarm these good people in their own homes using the threat of imminent deadly force, is unthinkable."

"The NRA will not stand by while guns are confiscated from law-abiding people who're trying to defend themselves," Cox said. "We're exploring every legal option available to protect the rights of lawful people in New Orleans."

To that end, NRA has put professional investigators to work on the ground in New Orleans and surrounding areas. News stories and members' detailed accounts have been followed up on, but we need more information. Some of our best leads have come from rank and file law enforcement, but we need to hear from all directly affected citizens.

If you have personally had a gun confiscated in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina hit, please call (888) 414-6333. Be prepared to leave only your name and immediate contact information so we can get back to you. Once again, we are seeking contact information from actual victims of gun confiscation in Louisiana only.

For additional information, please visit www.NRAILA.org, or e-mail us at ila-contact@nrahq.org.

[ExSoldier]

I think the NRA was waaaay too slow in taking this action!!!

Any freeper who knows of ANY person who might fit into these requirements, please have them contact NRA right away!

[Joe Brower]

[ExSoldier]

PING!!!

[George Smiley]

Okay, here's the final draft of my letter.

I sent to the President, my Senators, my Representative and the Attorney General (his was worded a little differently because he's in charge of the DOJ).

Feel free to use it as you see fit.

BTW, forms of address- Letters to the President are addressed to The President.
Letters to Senators, Representatives and the Attorney General are addressed to The Honorable _______________

Dear ____________

I was shocked to read news articles reporting that the superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department issued an order, ostensibly at the direction of the mayor of the City of New Orleans, to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens who were peacefully residing in their own homes.

It was even more shocking to see television and cable channel footage of what appeared to be state, local and federal law enforcement officials and some units of the National Guard carrying out this order.

I believe that both the issuance of this blatantly illegal order and the actions taken to carry it out constituted violations of 18 USC 241 “Conspiracy against rights” and 18 USC 242 “Deprivation of rights under color of law”. It is also possible that other laws of which I am unaware were violated by these actions.

I am requesting your assistance in persuading the United States Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into this matter to determine if, as I believe, the rights of citizens were unlawfully violated by these actions, and, if such a determination is made, to prosecute all involved to the fullest extent of the law.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[longtermmemmory]

Perhaps what the NRA should do is create a "MODEL DISASTER PLAN FOR CITIZENS DISASTER AUXILIARY"

A model plan that ALL regions can use to structure how to USE armed citizens to help keep order.

A model plan BUYS CREDIBILITY.

A model plan gives people something point to when talk to do nothing local officials. "Why have you not done THIS".

A model plan can be used as a campaign issue. Vote for me because I will adopt the "model plan."

Imagine classes which will lead to MORE citizens learning how to be armed.

[zarf]

If the NRA doesn't get off it's ass and start suing for this blatantly unconstitutional confiscation program...I'll pull my memebership.

[Condor51]

I'm sure that there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

Undoubtedly the NOPD and/or the LANG took great care in documenting the rightful owners name, address, serial number of gun 'confiscated' (for the public good 'ya know) and will be returned without annnnnny problems and/or delay when requested by said lawful owner.

(I crack me up sometimes)

[righthand man]

bump

[aspiring.hillbilly]

The Gun Owners of America might be more to your likeing: http://gunowners.org/

[peyton randolph]

NRA is less about rights and more about fundraising. Emulating the Red Cross model while letting others do the actual work.

[ExSoldier]

I just sent THIS to the House Judiciary Committee of the US Congress:

Honorable Representatives, I strongly urge you to open hearings on the actions of the Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to see if they or any of the agencies they direct are in violation of U.S. Federal Law for the forced confiscation of firearms in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Regardless of the issue of gun control or a state of emergency, there was no edict of MARTIAL LAW in effect, made clear by both the Governor and the Mayor. Absent this, this local official, sanctioned by a state level elected official exceeded their authority and put citizens of the United States in direct danger from their own government and from the predatory actions of looters and the lawless in the area.

Clearly laws were broken at all levels of government. If the Governor fails to enforce her own state law, then it falls to the Congress to investigate this malfeasance. Please Act.

Note all emphasis is mine for this FR post.

[Eastbound]

""What we've seen in Louisiana--the breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of disaster--is exactly the kind of situation where the Second Amendment was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves, . . "

Not being picky, but I think he could have worded that more accurately. How about, 'was intended to become fully operational for self-protection and the security of a free state?'

Col. David Hunt said yesterday that over 3,000 looters were on the prowl, shooting each other for turf control, and at the authorities. It was like Baghdad at night, according to one report.

I'm convinced that would not have happened if the thugs and looters knew that the citizens of NO were armed to the teeth to prevent such a ransack or attack on the people themselves.

A really bad decision for the 'authorities' to disarm the folks by force. Certainly proves what we've been saying for years: "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

That would actually include the authorities who dis-armed the folks, for they became outlaws themselves the moment they violated their oath.

Dis-arm? NEVER! Believe it.

[Hank Rearden]

To my knowledge, Bush didn't even speak out against this outrage - much less go in there, stop it and have his "Justice" Dept. arrest and prosecute those responsible.

Didn't he take a solemn oath to defend the Constitution? Or does he think he can stomp the 2nd the way he stomped the 1st?

[ExSoldier]

I used to think this too. But the real scammers in this arena are the CCRKBA and the SAF who put something like 92% of their fundraising efforts into costs of operation and about 8% into the actual cause. One of the only really good things they do is to publish The New Gun Week which is an excellent little newspaper on legislation and firearms in general. But you think they have even a fraction of the clout of the NRA? If the NRA is really the paper tiger you claim, why is it so feared on Capitol Hill? Despised by the media? Uh-uh, I think you're off base.

[turnrightnow]

[Didn't he take a solemn oath to defend the Constitution?]

Which Constitution? The original one, or the 'living, breathing' one?

[RAY]

As this issue unfolded it occurred that we may be seeing what will typically happen in such communities during similar events. Could it happen in yours - the government finding an excuse to disarm legally armed private citizens?

Yes, it can!

[peyton randolph]

Just as The Salvation Army is more charitable than the Red Cross,

the Gun Owners of America is more true to the 2nd Amendment than the NRA.

I compare the NRA to the Red Cross because both are very effective at fundraising. Capitol Hill

listens to the NRA because money pays for campaigns. In contrast, The Salvation Army and GOA

are truer to the purposes for which they were founded, i.e. they haven't compromised themselves for

the cash or the meet-n-greets with the politicos.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Right after Ruby Ridge and Waco, the NRA sent out a message, "Don't rush to become associated with the 'lunatic fringe", or something like that.
Point here is that any one of us, could be defined as "lunatic fringe" before breakfast, on Sunday, September the 18th!
I appreciate their efforts, BUT!
If any of you, personally, are very sure that no one, could ever so define you, you surely are no where near being "Republican" enough!
We are descended from the "lunatic fringe", for Heaven's sake! Our ancestors proposed, designed, and installed the most "lunatic", radical, concept of government ever concieved and attempted. If anyone lacks the guts to keep on making the dream work, Hilary really could use you!
BUAIDH NO BAS!

[ExSoldier]

Still, regardless of methodology, which is the more effective? I think the pols like the NRA for the money, sure. That's the obvious carrot. But the stick is there too: 90% of those we oppose LOSE their elections! That's because gun owners who are also true believers in the 2nd Amendment will stand in a driving rain or a blizzard to VOTE! That's the strength of NRA. GOA is an up-n-comer, to be sure but they have over 100 years of organization building to catch up on and that's going to be tough to do.

[ExSoldier]

Still, regardless of methodology, which is the more effective? I think the pols like the NRA for the money, sure. That's the obvious carrot. But the stick is there too: 90% of those we oppose LOSE their elections! That's because gun owners who are also true believers in the 2nd Amendment will stand in a driving rain or a blizzard to VOTE! That's the strength of NRA. GOA is an up-n-comer, to be sure but they have over 100 years of organization building to catch up on and that's going to be tough to do.