The Second Amendment Foundation 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.

1. Do police officers have better things to be doing during catastrophes than going around and confiscating people's legally-owned firearms? Like, I don't know, rescuing people? Helping to direct relief efforts? Stopping looters?



2. And, speaking of looters, what more appropriate time for citizens to go armed so that they can protect themselves, their families and their property than in a time of wide-spread chaos and criminal activity? And can you think of a better deterrant to random violence and thievery than the idea that the next person you attack may be better armed than you are and willing to fight back?