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November 17, 2005, 12:58 PM
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/NEWS01/511170315/1002/NEWS
Lawmaker pushes to have storm victims' guns returned
November 17, 2005
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By Dan Turner
dturnergannett.com
BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana needs to apply pressure to get law enforcement agencies to return firearms confiscated from hurricane victims, says state Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie.
Citing a 36-year-old state law that conflicts with the Louisiana and U.S. constitutions, law officers seized weapons from hurricane victims, particularly in the New Orleans area. Although a court has ordered the return of the weapons, some people haven't gotten back their guns, Scalise said Wednesday.
"I don't think it's good policy that we keep this on the books, but the session did not allow us to address that," he told the House Criminal Justice Committee.
"I brought a resolution to at least bring it to people's attention that this is something we want to state, as a matter of public policy, that we don't agree with that law. We also want to repeal that law. And I (will) have a bill to (do) that in the next special session or, at the latest, in March."
Gun Owners of America's Web site, gunowners.org, includes video of out-of-state police on temporary assignment in Louisiana kicking down a homeowner's door, confiscating weapons and taking a woman from the house even though she had not broken the law, Scalise said. The officers may have been looking for trapped hurricane victims, he said, but the seizure of the weapons was among the constitutional problems created in that situation.
"Do you think they were just overreacting?" state Rep. Jane Smith, R-Bossier City, said.
"Probably," Scalise said.
Committee members agree with Scalise on the need to change the law but are concerned about possibly hampering law enforcement if and when similar situations arise.
Recalling televised images of people looting after Hurricane Katrina, committee members said they want to ensure police have the authority needed to maintain control.
"What went on in the New Orleans area during Katrina went past all-out gang war," committee Chairman and state Rep. Danny Martini, R-Metairie, said.
The committee unanimously approved Scalise's resolution.
Lawmaker pushes to have storm victims' guns returned
November 17, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT
By Dan Turner
dturnergannett.com
BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana needs to apply pressure to get law enforcement agencies to return firearms confiscated from hurricane victims, says state Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie.
Citing a 36-year-old state law that conflicts with the Louisiana and U.S. constitutions, law officers seized weapons from hurricane victims, particularly in the New Orleans area. Although a court has ordered the return of the weapons, some people haven't gotten back their guns, Scalise said Wednesday.
"I don't think it's good policy that we keep this on the books, but the session did not allow us to address that," he told the House Criminal Justice Committee.
"I brought a resolution to at least bring it to people's attention that this is something we want to state, as a matter of public policy, that we don't agree with that law. We also want to repeal that law. And I (will) have a bill to (do) that in the next special session or, at the latest, in March."
Gun Owners of America's Web site, gunowners.org, includes video of out-of-state police on temporary assignment in Louisiana kicking down a homeowner's door, confiscating weapons and taking a woman from the house even though she had not broken the law, Scalise said. The officers may have been looking for trapped hurricane victims, he said, but the seizure of the weapons was among the constitutional problems created in that situation.
"Do you think they were just overreacting?" state Rep. Jane Smith, R-Bossier City, said.
"Probably," Scalise said.
Committee members agree with Scalise on the need to change the law but are concerned about possibly hampering law enforcement if and when similar situations arise.
Recalling televised images of people looting after Hurricane Katrina, committee members said they want to ensure police have the authority needed to maintain control.
"What went on in the New Orleans area during Katrina went past all-out gang war," committee Chairman and state Rep. Danny Martini, R-Metairie, said.
The committee unanimously approved Scalise's resolution.