Pragmatic Speak

This is a topic that didn’t get the attention it warranted during the Katrina coverage – but it’s in the news again now, and I’m going to take this opportunity to make a few points.

Here’s a story from April 19th about New Orleans Police Returning Guns Confiscated Post-Katrina. Basically the NO police are making a half-assed effort to return personal weapons to people – IF they can provide proof of ownership, and they‘re running new criminal background checks on people claiming their guns. Read the article – it’s interesting how the parties involved justify the confiscation of personal weapons during a time of crisis – some totally legitimate (abandoned guns in abandoned homes to keep them out of the wrong hands), some totally bogus IMO.

I’m okay with the first responders picking up and securing guns they find in their rescue efforts. I personally think the gun owners have a responsibility to secure their weapons before evacuating (I have a gun safe), but if they don’t, it’s reasonable for authorities to secure the weapons. I’m not okay with the idea of confiscating my personal weapon(s) if I’m evacuated. For starters, mine would be secured in gun safes before I depart. Secondly, my personal sidearm, for which I have a VALID permit, stays with me if I’m forced to go to a shelter or evacuation point. Unless the evacuation center violates one or more of the restrictions on my permit (e.g., court house), I have a legal right to continue to carry a sidearm, and will.

On the good news front, FEMA did apparently relent back in October 2005 and lift its ban on firearms in FEMA-run housing areas (FEMA OKs Firearms at Temporary Housing Parks). However, I can foresee the problem still occurring during some future disaster when a local official decides for himself/herself that firearms are a no-no.

This topic is in the news again, and on a more regular basis lately, due to the efforts of the National Rifle Association. They have a campaign to get local officials to sign a pledge to not forcibly disarm law-abiding citizens. (Fox News story, May 18th – NRA Asks Police Chiefs, Mayors to Sign Gun-Seizure Pledge). That sure seems like a “no-brainer” to me – those folks already have the obligation to uphold the Constitution and the law. Confiscating legal guns from law-abiding citizens, no matter what the justification, would be breaking the law!

Before you even start to type a comment labeling me just another gun-toting-nutcase, think about it carefully. I’m not advocating any special treatment – I’m responding within the law and my legal rights – and I’m certainly NOT endangering you or anyone else by exercising my legal rights. And unlike the occaisonal fringe gun-ownership zealot, notice that I approved of confiscating abandoned or unsecured weapons to keep them out of the wrong hands during an emergency (as LONG as the rightful owner can get them back easily, and with no add-on requirements like a criminal background check).

The bottom line here folks is that neither the government, nor local authorities, have the right to arbitrarily suspend my legal right to own guns, and/or carry a concealed weapon, because they think it makes it “safer“. During the aftermath of a disaster of any kind risk increases because the low-life predators that make up an all-too-large portion of our population see oppportunity. I won’t be one of their victims: I’ll protect myself, my family, and my home.

Unfortunately, the chances of lawlessness, or at least a breakdown in the protections provided by our society (law enforcement), have increased in our world. Whether it’s a natural disaster like Katrina, or a terrorist attack on America, we’ve seen what happens when individuals and the local, state, and federal governments aren’t prepared. I take deliberate steps to prepare for the worst-case scenario and I know we’d make it through. I sure as hell won’t be deprived of my legal right to protect myself and my family during any such crisis.