H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act," Passed...

[280PLUS]

Fairfax, VA- The National Rifle Association (NRA) and law-abiding gun owners scored a significant victory yesterday when the United States Congress acted to prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during states of emergency, barring practices conducted by officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This action was included in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that passed both chambers of Congress. This bill now heads to President Bush for his expected signature.

"Following the chaos and civil disorder in New Orleans when the city effectively suspended the Second Amendment, NRA vowed to make sure we never again witnessed this kind of desecration on our rights," declared Chris W. Cox. "As promised, NRA set out to pass legislation at both the federal and state levels to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens."

H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act," was introduced in the House by Congressman Bobby Jindal (LA - 1) passed the House on July 25, 2006 with a broad bi-partisan margin of 322-99. Senator David Vitter (R-La) introduced the Senate version of the bill, which passed the United States Senate by 84-16, the largest margin of victory for a NRA-backed measure.

"The essence of the 'Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act' was so compelling that it received strong bipartisan support in Congress," continued Cox. "When 911 is non-existent and law enforcement personnel are busy with search and rescue missions and other duties, law abiding Americans want to defend their families and loved ones in times of emergency. Your NRA helped guarantee their freedom to do just that."

"On behalf of all NRA members nationwide, I want to thank Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and Sen. Vitter for their leadership in introducing this legislation and seeing these fundamental bills through to passage," concluded Cox.

 

[LAR-15]

And Republicans do what for our rights?

You mean no Federal monies to organizations that seize guns?

Yay!

 

[RioShooter]

Thank You NRA

This is one reason why I support the NRA. The next time I receive another request for money from the NRA, I'm going to send them a check. I live on the Gulf Coast, and now have one less thing to worry about the next time I'm hit with a hurricane.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

We also have a lot of officers(my younger brother and father in law included) breathing a huge sigh of relief.

To those that called, faxed, e-mailed, or sent money to make this happen:

THANK YOU

 

[jcoiii]

Wonderful! I don't have to go up to an armed person and disarm them. That makes me very happy

 

[rkh]

Be advised:

This legislation only applies to federal agents and other groups receiving federal funding. This bill would not have prevented the NOLA seizures. The federal government simply lacks authority to regulate state and local law enforcement.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Doesn't matter. What passes one session of the Congress can be changed by another session. Folks who vote for Independent candidates that have no chance of winning will help to elect anti-gun legislators.

When the Democrats control the Senate and House after the next election they will pass greater anti-gun measures.

 

[Kharn]

This legislation only applies to federal agents and other groups receiving federal funding. This bill would not have prevented the NOLA seizures. The federal government simply lacks authority to regulate state and local law enforcement.

In a disaster, almost every group involved has recieved at least $1 of federal funding.

Kharn

 

[Alex45ACP]

Uh... isn't this what the 2nd Amendment is for?

 

[AirForceShooter]

Has the President signed it?

AFS

 

[johnsonrlp]

He has to decide first

 

[LAR-15]

Be advised:

This legislation only applies to federal agents and other groups receiving federal funding. This bill would not have prevented the NOLA seizures. The federal government simply lacks authority to regulate state and local law enforcement.

But I guarantee you most law enforcement agencies have recieved at least a nickles worth of Federal funds.

They confiscate guns now, they lose that Federal funding.

Power of the purse is just that- powerful.

 

[Cobalt60]

Uh... isn't this what the 2nd Amendment is for?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

This legislation only applies to federal agents and other groups receiving federal funding. This bill would not have prevented the NOLA seizures. The federal government simply lacks authority to regulate state and local law enforcement.

As others have pointed out, almost every law enforcement agency in the nation receives some federal funding (body armor being one popular category). Any law enforcement agency that violates this policy loses all of that funding, including any money already spent that fiscal year.

I would be willing to bet that under these circumstances NOLA would have chosen to lay low rather than have to explain to the Feds what happened to the money they had already spent.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I am very confused.

The 2nd Amendment should make NOLA style confiscations illegal.

But if the government is willing to violate that law, don't you think they would be willing to violate this new one?

Do you really think the federal government would refuse to help fund the NOLA police department even if this had been law at the time of Katrina? Can you imagine the public outcry if they had tried to refuse funding?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Be advised:

This legislation only applies to federal agents and other groups receiving federal funding. This bill would not have prevented the NOLA seizures. The federal government simply lacks authority to regulate state and local law enforcement.

I'm not certain, but I think when National Guard troops are sent to other states for hurricane relief, they are working on the federal payroll and thus would be covered under this act. I don't know who was paying the freight for the CHiPs, who were some of the worst offenders in NOLA, though.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Uh... isn't this what the 2nd Amendment is for?

Yes indeed. So if anyone tries to violate your right to keep and bear arms as you interpret that right all you need do is put on a happy face, mention the words "Second Amendment," and saunter away.

The rest of us are just spinning our wheels when we push for pro-gun laws, try to have pro-gun candidates elected to office, and strive to change anti-gun public attitudes. Silly us. We should have thought about the words "Second Amendment" before now and saved ourselves a lot of effort. But since we don't have much else to do with our time and money perhaps we can be indulged in our foolishness. :banghead:

 

[Fn-P9]

Well this article makes me happy. I am glad congress was able to pass such a bill. The NRA has done all of America good this time.