After Years of Stonewalling, New Orleans Mayor Admits Illegal Gun Confiscation, Settl
 

Take it from me the hurricane was the best thing ever happened to NO. Unfortunately It sucked for all the neighboring states. Now all they have to do is get shod of that asshat mayor.

No shit. In Houston, our crime rate went up significantly after we took in the - shall we say - less than desirable elements of NO. Lots of folks (including our native criminal element, no doubt) wish they'd never come.

After Years of Stonewalling, New Orleans Mayor Admits Illegal Gun Confiscation, Settles with NRA

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Fairfax, VA-After a three-year legal battle over the unconstitutional confiscation of lawfully owned firearms, the City of New Orleans has agreed to settle a law suit by the National Rifle Association (NRA). A permanent injunction has been issued against the city, Mayor Ray Nagin and current Police Chief Warren Riley. The Second Amendment Foundation assisted NRA in the legal battle against Mayor Ray Nagin and the City of New Orleans.

“Today’s outcome is an important victory for the citizens of New Orleans and the Second Amendment,” said Wayne LaPierre, NRA’s executive vice president. “We fought for three long years in a fundamental legal challenge to assert the inherent self-defense rights for law-abiding citizens, knowing the Constitution would prevail. Today it has prevailed and freedom has won.”

Judge Carl J. Barbier presided over the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Barbier signed the permanent injuncation against the City of New Orleans. The city admitted the firearm confiscations carried out by Nagin and Riley were unconstitutional and illegal.

Under the terms of the injunction, Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Chief Warren Riley and any agents or employees of the City of New Orleans shall:

· cease and desist confiscating lawfully-possessed firearms from all citizens;

· make an aggressive attempt to return any and all firearms which may have been confiscated during the period August 29 to December 31, 2005;

· within one month of the settlement, post on the City website the procedure for the return of confiscated firearms. This notice must include an interactive form for those claiming firearms to fill out, resulting in timely transmission of the information to the appropriate official. All other information on claiming a firearm will also be included on the site.

· within one month of the settlement, the City must mail notices to all individuals who are identified on the property tags of firearms in the City's possession which were confiscated during the aftermath of Katrina.

“On behalf of the lawful gun owners of New Orleans, NRA is pleased with this outcome,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “We thank Judge Barbier for his leadership and constitutional scholarship in presiding over our lawsuit. NRA will continue to aid however we can in the full return of all the firearms confiscated by the City.”

Ever seen the pics of the guns after they were stored in 55 gallon drums in leaky trailers? Even if they get their gun back, most are not going to be happy with the rusted up lump of metal they will be given. NRA should have pushed for a cash settlement for each owner to cover damage sustained while they were in police custody. Class action suit possible now, seeking punitive damages as well? Or did the settlement include immunity from further lawsuits?

I think that they should stand trial for felony theft of legally owned firearms. I agree Kernel that they should pay for the ruined guns, but it should be the mayor or whomever responsible for this action that pays and not the peolples tax dollars.