Friends, I can only point you to the two threads I've posted in S&T about lessons learned from Katrina and the bug-out from New Orleans. Specifically, see Point #13 in Post #1 in
this thread, and Point #5 in Post #1 in
this thread.
I believe, as do most (all?) of us posting here, that the actions of the New Orleans authorities in confiscating legally-owned firearms are unconstitutional. However, the courts have not ruled on this matter - and unless and until they do, we're basically screwed. If you take up arms against the authorities under such circumstances, the media, the authorities, etc. will all label you a rebel, a criminal, etc.
What we need is for this case to hit the courts ASAP, and make it all the way to the Supreme Court for a definitive ruling on the Second Amendment as an
individual right. Based on past rulings that have emphasized the
collective right interpretation of the 2A, the authorities will almost certainly argue that they have the right to confiscate the weapons of individuals. We have to establish case law that protects the individual-right interpretation - and that case law does not exist at the highest level (yet).
I hope the NRA gets involved in this case ASAP, and files a lawsuit with all speed. This is probably the "smoking gun" case that we've been waiting for, with clear, unambiguous issues that directly and immediately impact the meaning and validity of the 2A. However, I also urge members not to be silly and post a "call to arms" or "shoot the JBT's" response - that doesn't help our cause at all. We need to approach this issue from a legal and constitutional perspective, not make ourselves look like slack-jawed, gun-totin', arm-dragging neanderthals.
Sure, in the short term, it sucks to be a law-abiding owner of firearms in New Orleans: but in the long term, this incident might just be the "acid test" of the Second Amendment that determines its future (and ours, as firearms owners).
It's up to us to defend the Constitution - but in a Constitutional way.