Preacherman
Member
The Second Amendment Foundation teamed with the NRA in the lawsuit against the NOPD earlier - now it looks like they're taking action against the Chief's latest idiocy. See here for the source document.
SAF FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST NEW ORLEANS POLICE CHIEF’S PLAN TO GRAB GUNS
BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is calling upon U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley over his announcement last week that police in his city would once again confiscate privately-owned firearms in the event of another catastrophic storm like Hurricane Katrina.
During a live interview with a New Orleans radio station, Riley acknowledged that citizens may, under state law, carry firearms. He said, however, that police will confiscate firearms, and may arrest people, arguing that “During an exigent circumstance like that, we cannot allow people to walk the street carrying guns.”
Last summer, SAF was joined by the National Rifle Association in a federal lawsuit against post-Hurricane Katrina gun seizures. That successful lawsuit in federal district court resulted in a restraining order, and subsequent injunction.
“We believe Riley’s decision is a flagrant disregard of the federal court action, Louisiana state law and both the Louisiana and federal constitutional protections of the right to keep and bear arms,” Gottlieb said in his letter to Gonzales.
“We’re writing to General Gonzales in an effort to prevent Riley and officers under his command from committing the same egregious civil rights violations they did last year,” Gottlieb explained. “It is outrageous that Riley would plan such actions when he knows they violate both state law and the state and federal constitutions. His claim that ‘exigent circumstances’ would allow such confiscations is preposterous.
“We are forced to address this issue to Attorney General Gonzales because we know that anti-gun Mayor Ray Nagin would never tell Riley to belay that order, nor would the mayor fire Riley for willfully violating the firearms civil rights of his constituents,” he said.
“Misuse of police power is a serious matter,” Gottlieb said. “Nowhere in America can a police official violate the civil and constitutional rights of citizens within his jurisdiction under the color of law. We find it necessary to keep reminding administrators like Riley that this is still the United States, not a police state.”
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nations oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.
