Confiscation

For decades, those who claim to occupy the middle ground in the gun control debate have answered the concerns of gun owners with the simple statement: it can't happen here. We won't ever have Nazi death camps. We won't ever have police abuses. We won't ever again have a government evil enough to be worth comitting our lives and sacred honor to revolution. And we won't ever have gun confiscation.

Now, we do.

Any resident (or ex-resident) of New Orleans or surrounding areas whose legally-owned firearm(s) were confiscated by police or military forces, please contact me with details.

The full story is available from the New York Times. Take a close look at the picture on the story, which is captioned "Police officers looking for survivors today..."; it doesn't look to me like they are looking for survivors. It looks like they are breaking in. Looking for survivors is easy; knock, announce, listen for a response. Confiscating firearms, on the other hand, requires axes, crowbars, and jack boots. Looks like the New Orleans Police came prepared.

UPDATE: There's some video here. I don't remember where I got it originally. I'm not going to go into whether the confiscation order is legal or illegal under Louisiana law; it's clearly a violation of the right to bear arms provision in Louisiana's Constitution, as well as the 2nd Amendment by way of the 14th. Searching the houses violates the 4th. Confiscating property, both firearms and the land itself, violates the 5th. Quartering soldiers in local buildings, as in one reported incident, without permission, violates the 3rd -- perhaps the only violation of that Amendment we're ever likely to see in the modern world.

The response to this disaster has demonstrated that the government no longer cares even to pay lip service to the rights of the people.

What do we do about this? I don't know.

But it is clear we must do something.

UPDATE: More video, courtesy of the Geek with a .45. Take heart, folks. We've got two open spots on the Supreme Court slated to be filled by a reasonably pro-gun President, and a reasonable chance of one or two more openings in the term. Take down names and badge numbers of anyone trying to confiscate your firearms. Don't resist with force (but you are not obligated to help the police find any firearms that may not be readily visible). Plan to survive and plan to sue. (This is good advice).

UPDATE: Dave Kopel has more in Reason magazine. We still have a court system through which those affected can seek redress, and hopefully set some badly-needed pro-2nd precedents in the process. Remember, fight smart. And get those badge numbers, because officers involved in the violation of civil rights under color of law are personally liable.

UPDATE: Gun Owners of America has a statement. The NRA is busy making waffles.

UPDATE: Seconded. The confiscation operation appears to be either stalled or stopped at present, so the immediate urgency is past, but reports are still sketchy. Wayne -- I want to see those badges on your wall if you want to have any credibility in the future as a supporter of gun rights. Start with the so-called cop who gave the orders, and track it all the way down to every single beat cop who followed them. The police need to understand two things. First, that orders to confiscate firearms from otherwise peaceful citizens are always illegal. Second, that there are serious consequences for obeying an illegal order.

UPDATE: The NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation are seeking plaintiffs from this event. Contact safalert@liberty.seanet.com if you, or someone you know, had their firearms confiscated. Gun Owners of America says they know of at least one person who intends to bring a suit.

Posted on 2005-09-08 19:47:34.0 by matthew@triggerfinger.org

Check the groups below and enter your email address to receive updates by email:

The trackback URL for this entry is: http://triggerfinger.org/weblog/servlet/trackback/6748

No trackbacks have been posted so far.

No comments have been posted so far.