Cops in New Orleans: "Give up your guns -- we need them!"

[Andrew Rothman]

From the AP:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5588513.html

Katrina may have killed thousands, mayor says
Associated Press
August 31, 2005


NEW ORLEANS — The mayor said Wednesday that Hurricane Katrina probably killed thousands of people in New Orleans.

"We know there is a significant number of dead bodies in the water,'' and other people dead in attics, Mayor Ray Nagin said. Asked how many, he said: "Minimum, hundreds. Most likely, thousands.''

The frightening estimate came as Army engineers struggled to plug New Orleans' breached levees with giant sandbags and concrete barriers, while authorities drew up plans to clear out the tens of thousands of people left in New Orleans and all but abandon the flooded-out city.

There will be a "total evacuation of the city. We have to. The city will not be functional for two or three months,'' Nagin said.

...


Police officers were asking residents to give up any guns they had before they boarded buses and trucks because police desperately needed the firepower: Some officers who had been stranded on the roof of a motel said they were being shot at overnight.

I'm guessing it has more to do with not trusting armed evacuees to show good judgement when penned up like cattle.

 

[Hutch]

That'd be my guess too, Matt. Once again, this has strengthened my resolve to NEVER, EVER allow myself and my family to be herded into such wretched circumstances.

Note to self: Polish up the bug-out plan.

Note to self: If a bug-out is even remotely called for, go ahead and bug out. It's like voting in Chicago - bug out early and often.

 

[Biker]

Sorry. The police can't and aren't required to protect me and mine, so I believe that I'll keep my firearms for the protection of me and mine.
Best o' luck to the police, but I suspect that you're right. As an afterthought, is our co-operation required under martial law?
Biker

 

[WYO]

Unless something changed since I bailed 9 years ago (which I doubt), NOPD does not issue shotguns or rifles to line officers. They would dole some out shotguns for a hurricane, and issue out a few rounds of birdshot only. If that is the case, anyone with a long gun and real ammo has more firepower.

 

[El Tejon]

El Tejon to New Orleans Po-Po: embrace the suck!

You built a reputation of a corrupt, criminal organization. If people are less than enthused about helping you, I completely understand.

Good luck with your new situation, but you are "trained professionals" and deserve to lie in the bed you made.

 

[Zrex]

El Tejon to New Orleans Po-Po: embrace the suck!

You built a reputation of a corrupt, criminal organization. If people are less than enthused about helping you, I completely understand.

Good luck with your new situation, but you are "trained professionals" and deserve to lie in the bed you made.

+1

I couldn't have said it better myself.... especially the "embrace the suck" part.

 

[hillbilly]

About 10 years ago, didn't New Orleans PD earn the distinction of being the only major American city PD that had two former officers simultaneously on death row for completely different crimes?

I seem to recall that when I last visited around 1994 or so.

hillbilly

 

[Henry Bowman]

I'd say that the NG and quite possibly our military will show up, and they have all the necessary firepower at their disposal.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Turn my guns over to some cop? It'll snow in Albuquerque on Independence Day first!

 

[Bulldozer]

ONE WORD ,... no

 

[Stauble]

.....from my cold dead hands

 

[Zundfolge]

My response: "No sir, you may NOT have my gun ... but if you'd like to spot targets for me that would be fine "

 

[HankB]

Give up my only means of protection to someone who has no legal obligation to protect me, and allow myself to be herded someplace I have no say in?

Not bloody likely.

(Of course, even if I were dumb enough to own a below-sea-level home on the coast, with a Cat 4 or Cat 5 storm coming, I still would've had the sense to bug out before it hit.)

 

[Shaun]

There are plenty of ways I could say NO -- all the more reason to keep at the least 1K rounds per gun to make sure you have more than enough to protect yourself for many years to come.

 

[TallPine]

yeah, this makes me think of the movie "Deep Impact" ...

the most horrifying part of that to me was when the buses arrived at that cave in MO (or AR ?) and they started herding people underground

no thanks, I'll take my chances with the comet (or whatever....) rather than give up my freedom

 

[Tom Servo]

My response: "No sir, you may NOT have my gun ... but if you'd like to spot targets for me that would be fine"

Same here. I don't like the thought of LEOs in danger, but if they're being shot at randomly, what kind of danger are civilians in? No way am I parting with my means of defense under that kind of civil unrest. I won't leave anybody high and dry (pardon that), but I'm taking care of me and my own first. Police officers accepted the risks when they signed up; I didn't.

At least they're asking, though. How long under "martial law" before they just start taking? "Martial law" can excuse alot of truly unethical behavior...

 

[kbr80]

El Tejon to New Orleans Po-Po: embrace the suck!

You built a reputation of a corrupt, criminal organization. If people are less than enthused about helping you, I completely understand.

Good luck with your new situation, but you are "trained professionals" and deserve to lie in the bed you made.

Yep, plus 1

 

[akodo]

oh come on now guys. I know i am pretty new here, but i bet 95% of the posters here have got enough firearms to keep a longarm for each adult under their roof and still have a few to loan out to a police officer.

Now, if you've got your .357 on your hip and an SKS over your shoulder, and offer the cops the 12 guage and box of shells, but they want the OTHER stuff too, then that is an entirely different story

 

[Strings]

Nope... sorry. I paid MY hard-earned cash for 'em, spent MY time fighting to keep 'em, so the *I* could use them in defense of MYSELF and those around me. NOT to issue to police whose superiors didn't feel like spending money to adequetly arm. When it comes to that, ElT got it right: "Embrace the suck"...


I have GOT to remember that line!

 

[kbr80]

Does not matter if I have 1 gun, or enough to equip a small squad, they are mine. If I elect not to "loan" them out, that is my call. The Police had enough warning of what was coming, they should have pre planned, you know, boy scout style.

 

[kayak bum]

This is my first post on the New Orleans disaster. I lived there for over ten years and feel it more my home town than any other; I can honestly that I now know how New Yorkers felt on 9-11. Everyone feels the shock and dismay, but it is so much easier when there is no personal tie.
That said, having been a victim of the NOPD car theft ring, not only no, but hell no; not one stinking round of .22 short.

 

[KriegHund]

Gotta agree here, but for a different reason-

You may never get them back.

Officer- Thanks for the gun, now we just need your name and addresss and well get back to you asap.

3 months later, you call the PD to see whats up.

Officer- "Well see what we can do, but we never had any guns under that adress given to this PD.

3 months later

Officer- Well we never recieved any guns from you from any department, sir. Cya later!"

 

[Stickjockey]

You guys bought fifteen Bryco .25 ACP pistols and a Hi-point 9mm carbine from me at your "buy-back" a couple months ago. Now you want more? What'd you do with the ones you already bought?

 

[magsnubby]

Bull squat. They had ample warning the storm was coming. If they didn't prepare for the worst then tough stuff. They're not required to protect the commom citizen so why the hell should a citizen give up their only means of protection.

That "12 gauge and box of shells" you gave away just might be needed to arm a member of your familey, or used as a back up, that the cop has no legal responsibility to protect.

 

[dakotasin]

I know i am pretty new here, but i bet 95% of the posters here have got enough firearms to keep a longarm for each adult under their roof and still have a few to loan out to a police officer.

you are right... i do have enough guns to outfit most any department in this state.
you are dead wrong in thinking i would even entertain the idea. not evenfor a second.

i don't trust the police, and i am 100% positive that not only would i not get my weapon back, but if i did by some freak occurence, i seriously doubt it would be in decent condition.

absolutely not, no friggin' way would i give them my guns. not one.