ORIGINS OF THE DOMESTIC DISARMAMENT POLICY

Justin Oldham
Sept. 10, 2005

You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to know that we've just had one more peek at our future. The following slice from the New York Times could have been part of the window dressing for my novel, but it wasn't. This was real.

New Orleans Begins Confiscating Firearms as Water Recedes New York Times, September 8, by ALEX BERENSON and TIMOTHY WILLIAMS

"Waters were receding across this flood-beaten city today as police officers began confiscating weapons, including legally registered firearms, from civilians in preparation for a mass forced evacuation of the residents still living here."

"No civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns, or other firearms, said P. Edwin Compass, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said."

"But that order apparently does not apply to the hundreds of security guards whom businesses and some wealthy individuals have hired to protect their property. The guards, who are civilians working for private security firms like Blackwater, are openly carrying M-16's and other assault rifles. Mr. Compass said he was aware of the private guards, but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons."

You can read the full text of this article at New York Times online.

Federal disaster management policy should cover a lot of things. Evacuation, rescue, and re- settlement are all good things. These are Humanitarian responsibilities that any honest government should live up to. As Federal, State, and Local governments struggle to bear these honorable burdens, they should not try to lighten their loads by putting down their Constitutional obligations.

Politics & Patriotism: The Fisk Conspiracy makes the case that the Federal government will deliberately capitalize on moments of great national pain and chaos to circumvent or suspend the Constitution. The situation described in the above New York Times article appears to be harmless. 50 years ago, it might have been. In today's highly charged political environment, this isn't just a "situation " It's a legal precedent waiting to happen.

As the article says, legally registered firearms are being confiscated from private citizens while heavily armed private security forces are on patrol. These "rented cops" have certificates, licenses, and permits issued by Federal, State, and local authorities. The career politicians who made it possible for local police whom you know and trust to disarm you...have already decided what the outcome of this issue will be at the Federal level. With or without legal challenge, they've just established an official policy of domestic disarmament.

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