Posted on 12/15/2017 10:14:51 PM PST by Simon Green
You know how they say it’s virtually impossible to kill any government program once it’s in place…because someone always benefits and it develops its own interested constituency? Yes, well it seems that the authority to confiscate firearms works pretty much the same way. At least it does in the territories of the US Virgin Islands.
You may remember that back in September, as Hurricane Irma was bearing down on the Caribbean, USVI Governor Kenneth Mapp declared a state of emergency and signed an order authorizing law enforcement agencies and the National Guard to confiscate residents’ firearms and ammuntion. The order stated that,
The Adjutant General is authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material or any other property that may be required by the military forces for the performance of this emergency mission in accordance with the Rules of Force promulgated by the Virgin Island National Guard and approved by the Virgin Island Department of Justice.
Because who would possibly have cause to defend their life or property in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster?
Anyway, Hurricanes Irma and Maria have long since come and gone (five people died and thousands lost their homes). But, as the Daily Caller is reporting, Governor Mapp has seen fit to extend the authorities’ right to confiscate Virgin Islanders’ weapons. Although he poo-poo’s the idea that it’s a gun grab.
Gov. Mapp told TheDC in a phone interview Thursday that the national guard “is not authorized to take arms and munitions from civilians,” and complained that he continues to receive “foolish” questions about this.
The Sept. 4 order, however, explicitly gives authorization to “seize” arms and ammunition.
Mapp said that this language is in “every declaration or activation of the national guard” that came before he took office. And added that it doesn’t allow Adjunct General Deborah Howell to “take weapons from civilians without proper compensation.”
Well, as long as he says so….
You can read the renewal of the order here. Whether or not any Virgin Islander’s guns have actually been taken, the authority to do so is still in force. And experience and common sense would tell you that any legal authority given the government — and plenty that isn’t — will, at some point, be exercised.
Or is that too tin foil hat of us?
US Virgin Island Emergency Firearms Confiscation Order Extended for guns ON PAPER!!!cruzan criminals not so much
They’d never get away with that kind of anti- American despotic krap in the mainland United States. Not in a thousand years.
This is the problem with ANY “emergency power”. Those who are in power are in a position to ensure that there will always be an emergency.
Yeah. Like in NOLA, during Katrina? Right.
my nice neighbor says,
a time of disaster when law and order could break down (and police would likely be even less able to defend citizens than usual) is definitely a time when he would not give up his defenses
plus,
if any governmental official ever tried to steal his defenses that would be the Number One time to use same, in the spirit of the American Republic and our Founding Fathers
There’s no constitution for the US Virgin Islands, yet. Does the U.S. Constitution apply there? If so, is it enforced? Some questions for you to mull and find answers to.
In an emergency people should be focused on water, food, shelter. If anyone is worried about other things they have other plans (other than helping) on their mind. That is exactly the time to use your weapons to defend yourself - from would be thieves and worse - no matter what authorization they may claim to have.
Note well that the exact wording is as if the National Guard was lacking in arms and needed to raid the citizens’ arms as if they were a gun store. Right, as if the armory was empty.
I’m sure that is the attempt at Constitutional justification although how that would not be an Infringement is beyond me.
Yep. Many guns confiscated at gunpoint from homeowners protecting themselves in the crazy days after Katrina.
Go buy your own.
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