Following are excerpts of an article by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre published in the January issue of
American Rifleman, official publication of the National Rifle Association:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, TV news brought images of chaos and anarchy into millions of American homes. The storm surge of violence was profoundly frightening to all of us. It could happen anywhere when catastrophe strikes.

Yet amid all that chaos, the media also brought the ultimate voice of misplaced authority in New Orleans - P. Edwin Compass (now long gone), the superintendent of police - issued the edict: "Nobody will be able to be armed. We are going to take all weapons!"

With that, Americans saw television images of ordinary, law-abiding people just like themselves, being held at the point of automatic rifles. We saw video images of doors of homes being pushed in by police and guardsmen with orders to disarm residents. And we saw images of burly California Highway Patrol troopers body slamming an elderly woman who showed them an antique pistol she proudly said she would use to defend herself and her home.

LaPierre continues: In defending the rights of Louisiana citizens, NRA marched into federal court and successfully sought immediate relief for gun owners who had been disarmed. Our filings asked the court "to vindicate the constitutional rights of the law abiding citizens of Louisiana to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from criminal violence....."With our motions before him, United States District Court Judge Jay Zainey prohibited further gun confiscations by the government and ordered the return of seized firearms to their lawful owners".

LaPierre continues: Gun-ban bureaucrats must never be empowered to seize firearms from peaceable citizens in the lawless days after any disaster strikes.

To stop such civil disarmament - the greatest threat of all - will require massive NRA member pressure at every level of government. In these upcoming legal and legislative battles, our battle cry must be REMEMBER NEW ORLEANS! Never ever forget!

I can only add, AMEN! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

One of the first things we rescued from my parents house were the firearms, to keep them out of the hands of criminals and the NOPD (sorry, I repeat myself....).

About a month ago, we found an old shotgun in a closet. I walked out with it to the street, and leaned it up against the truck (street side) while I opened the back doors. A firearm, in plain site on a major avenue in the City. It attracted the attention of several drivers who passed by. Hovever, the NOPD cruiser that passed by never even slowed down. The Officer was busy talking on a cell phone and eating a burger!

(Note: as a former LA Guardsman, I have not heard any reports of the National Guard enforcing that Police Chief's silly order.)

Merry Christmas,

.....CLIFF

Displaying any firearm in front of a CHiP and making statements of intent usually do ellicit body slams. Sorry, but antique or not, if it goes bang and inflicts massive tissue trauma our officers have cause to err, or body slam on the side of caution. I would also ask why 'burly' is attached to our Chips? Has anyone ever seen an anorexic, svelt, corporeal or ephemeral patrolman? Sorry, but in spite of the Gauliter of Sacramento, California's CHPs are anything but 'girly men.'

This article pretty well sums up the incident with your non-ephemeral ChiPs. Ephemeral is what they would be if they forced entry into my home and began body slamming my family and taking our guns. BTW, dictionary defines "ephemeral" as "lasting for a markedly brief time".

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A New Orleans woman is recovering from surgery this week from injuries resulting from when she was roughed-up by authorities who forced her to leave her home a week after Hurricane Katrina. Patricia Konie, 58, has filed a Federal lawsuit over the injuries and other violations of civil rights.

"My client was severely injured in a needless removal from her home," stated attorney Ashton O'Dwyer. "Patricia Konie had food, plenty of water, and a roof over her head. The police who illegally entered her home and imposed their will on a frail, middle-aged female should have been out apprehending armed, male looters instead."

Konie was greeting a reporter and photographer from a San Francisco TV station and a journalist from the London Times WHEN POLICE UNEXPECTEDLY ENTERED HER HOME. . When she refused to leave as ordered, they confiscated a firearm used for defense and according to Konie, "slammed" her to the ground, both displacing and fracturing her left shoulder.

After remaining in custody for several hours without charges being filed against her by authorities, she was flown alone to South Carolina where she remained for more than a month before returning to her native New Orleans.

A Federal lawsuit was filed claiming that authorities assaulted and knocked her to the ground when she refused to leave her New Orleans home on September 7th, 2005. Konie also alleges numerous civil rights violations including assault and battery by police in her suit against several Louisiana and CALIFORNIA STATE POLICE officers who took her into custody. She also alleges authorities violated her Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

"Hurricane Katrina was horrible, but there is no excuse for what happened to this nice lady", said O'Dwyer. "Police caused her months of pain and suffering and she still faces months of physical therapy. This suit will hold the individuals responsible for their misdeeds."

Konie had her surgery early on Monday morning, December 12. She is still recovering in the hospital, and lives alone on a limited budget of Social Security benefits. She is devastated by what happened and has not had her seized property returned.

"Sadly, Patricia Konie is only one of many examples of police going too far in the wake of Hurricane Katrina," said O'Dwyer. "Already one court has ruled against their strong-arm tactics, and we look forward to our day in court."

Would the last person to use Katrina for political gain please turn out the lights? These events always seem to turn into operas reminiscent of those PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. chinese productions of heavily made up people's army heros vanguishing capitalists. All I know is mistakes obviously were made. I also know a CHiP died tonight when his cruiser flipped several times after becoming airborn @ 100 MPH chasing some idiot near Bakersfield. He leaves a wife and 3 children. I don't know if he was Burly. I do know that in spite of my extreme liberal political views a CHP officer is more welcome in times of trouble than a troup of UP WITH PEOPLE singers, PETA activists or LDS missionaries on bicycles. Maybe we should be making manly man comments about greedheads who damage our planet's climate systems instead. After all, a hurricane knocking down your door is a might bigger target than any state trooper <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

As a curmudgeonly libertarian PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER., Louisianaian, and NRA member, I agree with you, Chris, that Katrina has been used as a grinding wheel of by those with political axes to grind. (Sean Penn and and Jesse Jackson come quickly to mind.) We have had an endless carpet of politicos, entertainers/reporters - even royalty - come down here and use us a backdrop to make their point. Disgusting.

I can't speak to the specifics that KyBooneFan cites (I hadn't heard them before this), but I do know that several people were relieved of their arms by the authorities. I do not know the circumstances. The days following Katrina were unprecedented times, and the authorities needed to act swiftly and decisively to protect the public. But, our Rights are our Rights, and shouldn't be infringed upon without a real need. The crux is, was their action really necessary? Where do we draw the line between liberty and security??

I am glad that the NRA fied the suit, and prevailed. THe Police Chief overstepped his authority. Had the Police Chief issued a decree decalring that no person arrested had the right to remain silent during this time, I would have supported the ACLU in their suit against that.

As to the CHP, I do know that California sent a darn army and air force down here - I saw more California cruisers (dozens) and choppers (at least 4) working out of the EOC in Baton Rouge than any other out-of-state agency. To all of those who came down here to assist us in our time of need, THANK YOU.

.....CLIFF

Cliff, there is a much more detailed accounting of the atrocities of the authorities in the November issue of American Hunter (also an official NRA publication) on page 96. Don't you read your monthly magazine?

Thanks for your thoughts and Merry Christmas to you too.

Boone <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just because someone is a cop doesn't automatically make him or her a great person. There are good cops & bad cops, just like any other line of work. One of the most important qualities (IMHO) of a good cop is judgment. Just because he CAN body slam a 98-lb old woman doesn't necessarily mean he SHOULD do it.

And, until CA lawmakers collect what few brain cells they've got and forbid those mindless, pointless pursuits, more cops and more innocent people are going to die, like it or not. Erick Manny was chasing a "vehicle that refused to pull over" at high speeds on a busy freeway. The pursued vehicle got away, a CHP officer died unnecessarily. Now, what was the effing point of THAT?! <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Sue

At what point does the line get drawn, and who draws that line, as to how and when LEOs will pusue criminals? Once a rule is made, the criminal knows exactly what he has to do to avoid being pursued, and will cross that line to increase his chances of getting away with his crime.

The ultimate decision MUST lie with the LEO. He or she is the one on the street, knows the situation, the environment and the people. I for one absolutely don't want any legislator telling me or anyone else more things that we can and can not do.

If we learn anything, it should be that an ideal policeman is about as real as Pam Anderson is to womanhood ( and boarding my horses next to her home and seeing her about town I much prefer my sometimes customer Sophia Loren or friend Shirley McClain <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />) We all wish police were Andy Taylors, but this isn't Mayberry. So let us agree that people make judgement calls that aren't always 100% on. Thats why we have legal recourse. I'm going to make an impromtu field survey of my local CHiPs for burlyness. I hope officer Jamie doesn't baton my turn signal and issue a fix it ticket like in the movies. She looks pretty svelt in her starched uniform <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If they went out after the looters, they'd be facing adverseries who were ready, willing, and able to fight back... 'course, the flip side is, their hands are tied when it comes to dealing with REAL criminals... God, I'm glad I'm not a COP, and to the good ones out there, thank you.

Troy

There are good and bad in every field, cop, construction worker, doctor, teacher, ad-infinitim. The officer's family has my deepest sympathy, but in this day and age (radios in cruisers, helicopters on patrol, thoroughly manned forces) what was he doing in a high speed chase... the rest of the country is almost daily being played and replayed video of California chases that go on for hours to avoid such tragedies???

Troy

P.S. At the risk of getting slapped on the back of the hand, when do we wake up and start making cruel and unusual examples of the people who cause all this headache/heartache?

"Girls of the CHP" now THAT would sell!!!