A Farewell to Arms

"If we took a gun from you and you were walking down the street, you went to jail. We took guns that were in homes. We took guns that were stolen that were stashed in alleyways. If we went into an abandoned house and a gun was there, absolutely we took the weapons. Obviously there were looters out there. We didn't want some burglar or looter to have an opportunity to arm themselves." This is what New Orleans Chief of Police Warren Riley declared recently, after he was forced to admit that the NOPD held nearly a thousand illegally seized weapons in storage.

Do not forget. In the immediate wake of hurricane Katrina, with looters threatening honest law abiding citizens, while police officers were bugging out for God knows where, the same Warren Riley of the NOPD was quoted as saying "No one will be able to be armed. We are going to take all the weapons."

OK Warren, which is it?

People arrived today attempting to reclaim guns confiscated by the New Orleans Police Department after hurricane Katrina. Only after the NRA and SAF filed a motion to have Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief Warren Riley held in contempt of court did city officials miraculously discover that more than a thousand seized firearms were being hidden. "They told me the police took them the first two weeks after the hurricane, after that it was the ATF," stated Charles Clark, 62, a retired peace officer. Clark had an antique gun taken from his house after the hurricane. "It's very frustrating. I know we had a storm and all, but there should be a way to find out who has your property."

Approximately 700 weapons were made available to owners this morning. Those seeking a weapon must bring either a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number. Police are running a criminal background check on anyone reclaiming their property.

73 year old Percy Taplet said the National Guard and State Police confiscated his shotgun when they forcibly evicted him from his home in New Orleans. He said he kept it for protection at his house and adjoining business. Today he was told he would have to contact State Police about the weapon. "I won't ever see that gun again believe me," Taplet said. "It's gone like everything else in that storm."

"We were told 25 people went in to get their guns and eight left with their firearms," Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association, said Monday afternoon. "The city said if we'd withdraw the suit they would return the guns." LaPierre said. "We have withdrawn it, reserving the right to file again."

"Natural disasters may destroy great cities, but they do not destroy civil rights," said Alan Gottlieb, founder of Second Amendment Foundation, which joined the NRA in the suit.

The next time citizens can try to reclaim their property is April 19 and 21, between 10AM and 2PM at 401 N.Lopez St. in New Orleans. Call (504)658-5503 for more information. Bring proof of ownership and a tolerance for incompetent bullshit.

Watch the video.