JURIST - Paper Chase: NRA fights 'arbitrary' weapons seizures in New Orleans after Katrina

[JURIST] A federal district court sided with two national gun rights groups Friday by issuing a restraining order [NRA press release] to stop Louisiana law enforcement officials from taking weapons away from individual gun-owners in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina [JURIST news archive], according to the National Rifle Association (NRA) [advocacy website]. The NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) [advocacy website] called the seizures unlawful because they were "arbitrary" and "without warrant or probable cause." The motion for a restraining order [SAF press release] was filed following a lawsuit brought by two Louisiana gun owners who had their firearms confiscated. NRA vice president Wayne LaPierre said Thursday that New Orleans Police Superintendent P. Edwin Compass III "completely overstepped his bounds" two weeks ago when he said that only law-enforcement personnel should be carrying weapons. SAF founder Alan Gottlieb called the confiscation of weapons "outrageous" and said it leaves New Orleans citizens "defenseless against lingering bands of looters and thugs." The Washington Times has more.

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