Gunmen Roaming New Orleans (WDSU.com)

[ovidsen]

UPDATED: 12:07 pm CDT August 31, 2005


NEW ORLEANS -- The top Homeland Security official in New Orleans said bands of gunmen are roaming through New Orleans.

Terry Ebbert said looters have been breaking into stores all over town to steal guns. The Times-Picayune newspaper reported the gun section at a new Wal-Mart has been cleaned out. And the thieves are apparently using their new guns, with shots heard through the night.

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/4919970/detail.html

This is not good.

[xultar]

1. I'm totally ashamed of my people.

[Neocondriac]

3. hey!

desperate people do desperate things. It does not matter what color they are. We need to get some law and order restored there quickly.

[xultar]

7. The stuff I saw when I lived there turned my stomach. They aren't all

desperate. NOLA has a really bad gang problem. Vietnamese and Black. I won't use the term African American cuz they aren't behaving as such.

They walked around with guns before the flood. This time they are just taking advantage of a situation at a negative impact to their brothers and sisters. That hurts my heart.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. Race has nothing to do with it.

You can find gangs of every race and gender all over the country. It's a human problem we must all reckon with. It reflects on mankind in general...not a specific ethnic group.

It hurts my heart too... :hug:

[demo dutch]

43. They need to round them up and let them cool off for a while. Sad thing

is they probably have no idea what going on around them.

[Cha]

63. I think so, too.

:grouphug:

[Chovexani]

88. I feel you.

I felt the same way watching the black-owned businesses being burned down in the LA riots.

Just awful.

[jeffrey_X]

82. Don't blame them...

Blame the environments WE created for them to live in.

[brentspeak]

90. I blame them 100%

When it comes to harming other people, the "it's not their fault; it's society's fault" excuse goes right out the window. Zero understanding or empathy from me.

[jus_the_facts]

2. that's what happens....when it's literally HELL ON EARTH.....

.....everything down there is a rotten ruin...those people are just being HUMAN after all...tryin' to survive in a mass of confusion and desperation. :cry:

[Skink]

4. Looters broke into a Walmart? I hope they let the employees out..

[xultar]

8. Buhwawawa! Brilliant! Thanks for the laugh.

[LiberalVoice]

14. Not only that...

but Policemen and Fire Fighters were in on the looting.

[saigon68]

34. No way !!!

Not the Heros of 9-11 </sarcasm>

[LiberalVoice]

39. No.

The pieces of shit of Lousiana.

[Zhade]

35. Thanks for the grin!

We can use all the humor we can get right now.

[KansDem]

55. Why didn't WalMart secure their store(s)?

Surely WalMart has a contingency plan for this kind of thing. After all, the country has had numerous lootings following disasters, riots, etc, over the past few decades, you'd think large retailers of firearms would know when to close their stores to prevent this from happening. I suppose, though, any talk about "restricting" access to firearms, even in the face of a disastrous storm, would send the freepers into hissy fit. Logic be damned!

[slackmaster]

56. How are you going to secure a store against a mob?

With no law enforcement people able to respond, a mob is at its leisure to use whatever means are necessary to break into the building.

Likewise, measures normally used to secure firearms during a business day are useless against people with a store full of power tools and nobody to stop them.

I suppose, though, any talk about "restricting" access to firearms, even in the face of a disastrous storm, would send the freepers into hissy fit. Logic be damned!

If you want a firearm for self-defense the time to get one is BEFORE disaster strikes. I keep weapons and ammunition in my earthquake kit.

[KansDem]

60. WalMart knew about this storm for days...

I just thought it might be possible to lock up the firearms in a secure location in the store. No reason to just let them set in the "guns and ammo" department, waiting for "shoppers."

[slackmaster]

62. It's not clear that Wal-Mart didn't lock guns up as well as they could

Any device to lock up a firearm (or anything else) can be defeated given tools and sufficient time. Lack of law enforcement makes the time window practically unlimited.

BTW - I keep my firearms locked up in this safe. It's very sturdy and cost me a lot of money. It's similar to what gun dealers use to store their inventory. A burglar could get in, but probably not before I or someone else is likely to intrude. But if for some reason my neighborhood was evacuated and there were no police it would be a different story.

[Blue_Tires]

76. slack, i never get tired of seeing that safe

it is very nice

[slackmaster]

80. Thanks, it gives me a big sense of security

My weapons are not going to be stolen and used in crimes.

[Ilsa]

69. Maybe not securing the store, but locking up the firearms in vaults

would have helped.

Frankly, I think that should be a requirement of anyone that sells stuff like this. If there is an emergency, the retailers should be required by law to vault these items. I bet 3 or 4 would do the trick.

[DemBones DemBones]

84. The Wal-Mart on Tchaitapoulas Street was giving away water

and food. The crowd started looting the store and the police couldn't stop them. Too few police.

The police did chase looters away from a sporting goods store, removed all the guns and ammo and boarded up the store. The looters broke in again and stole all the knives.

Read nola.com for reports.

[Maat]

75. I agree - now, that's funny, Skink!

Good one.

[snooper2]

10. If your just trying to survive, you would find a dry place, water, food,

And a bucket to take a dump in...

You wouldn't be running around popping rounds off here and there....

[Ian David]

13. The news says that they're having a problem with aligators

Being armed might be a good idea.

[yellowcanine]

32. Yeah, I am sure the guns are for alligators :sarcasm:

[Ian David]

33. And don't forget Swamp Thing

[kidrocks]

67. looters

Human my ass, the looters are nothing but scum-sucking people takeing advantage of the situation and the helpless, behaving like animals, and I don't care what color they are!!!

[jus_the_facts]

78. yeah fuck it...they should just lie down and rot with their city....

...and suck the scum their having to live in to survive....the situation is beyond hopeless and to hell with attempting to be *civilized*! :eyes::nopity:

[nlik]

5. Good news

I am sure they are just using them to hunt for food in order to survive. :sarcasm:

[sniffa]

9. no, they're going after our white women

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

21. Welcome to DU, nlik.

[saigon68]

6. SOUNDS LIKE BAGHDAD IN THE COUNTRY OF IRAQ-NAM

YIKES maybe some of these Gunmen can Join Blackwater

Their skills are needed elsewhere

[hollowdweller]

64. Not to worry, just a few dead enders. They are getting used to "freedom"

[HadItUpToHere]

11. get used to it...

what we are seeing unfolding in NO is just a small taste of what the future holds for all of us, as peak oil and global warming eventually turn the planet into mad maxland.

arm yourselves people! be prepared!

[Bushwick Bill]

28. You're Right ...It's So Clear If You See the Big Picture

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0871138883.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Maven]

54. The most salient observation to be made of this situation.

And sadly, the least likely to be made.

I think this is just a small taste of what we're in for in a large-scale resource shortage.

[info being]

87. I totally agree.

This is a microcosm of what we can expect in the years to come.

[Tyranny_R_US]

12. I'm with you xultar

[djg21]

15. But they are just looking for food and water, and weapons with which

to protect their families and shoot the gators, poisonous snakes and sharks cruising the street (and the rival gang member down the street). (/sarcasm off)

[Dr Fate]

16. Where is the National Guard?

Oh- that's right- they are "Nation Building" over in Iraq.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[Dr Fate]

20. "Sending some?" "Just activated?" Why were they not prepared?

Seems like they would be there in full force already- I wonder what the hold up is- lack of resources, perhaps?

And about half of them are in the fucking desert somewhere fighting for a lie.

The NATIONAL Guard is supposed to be HERE to protect the NATION. Not in Iraq.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dr Fate]

25. Cell phones were out 5 days ago? I believe we were all warned.

Cell phones were out when the Idiot liar sent the NATIONAL Guard to that fucking desert?

This is Bush's CLUSTER FUCK.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[Dr Fate]

30. That, and you cant defend Bush.

Bush sucks and there is no excuse for him- but you gave it a shot- now go give that blood.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dr Fate]

29. I'm personaly working with a major charity, thank you.

In fact, I should probably get back to work for them- my lunch break is nearly over. I've got more checks to process. But what the FUCK does this have to do with me? I'm talking about Bush & the national Guard.

I'll note you could not answer my question. Bush put our NATIONAL Guardsmen in Iraq- and now thousands in NO are paying for that.

I dont have any National Guard training- but there are plenty of these folks who DO have that training, but they are in Iraq, or according to your lame excuse their cell phones have been out all week.

[Dr Fate]

31. The Guard itself verifies what I say and debunks your excuses:

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1...


The back-page Post story added: “National Guard officials in the states acknowledged that the scale of the destruction is stretching the limits of available manpower while placing another extraordinary demand on their troops -- most of whom have already served tours in Iraq or Afghanistan or in homeland defense missions since 2001.”

Speaking for the Mississippi National Guard, Lt. Andy Thaggard said:
“Missing the personnel is the big thing in this particular event. We need our people.” According to the Washington Post, the Mississippi National Guard “has a brigade of more than 4,000 troops in central Iraq” while “Louisiana also has about 3,000 Guard troops in Baghdad.”

[demo dutch]

44. From the news it sounds that they're finally getting it together in terms

of getting military power in there. Unfortunately that's the way it has to be

[Dr Fate]

48. They have had all week to prepare for this-

I dont understand why it took so long to mobilize them.

My guess is that their resources are strained.

[demo dutch]

50. We were basically on our own after Andrew as well, it took also

approx 5 days. I wrote earlier that every administration has a learning curve. You really need a disaster agency that doesn't change with every administration, but that's wishful thinking.

[Dr Fate]

52. That sounds reasonable. n/t

n/t

[shavedape]

49. 100,000 national guard activated and sent to area

More than 100,000 U.S. Army National Guard troops have been activated and sent to the area. Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum said Guard members along the Gulf Coast are performing a variety of missions, from providing security at the emergency shelter at the New Orleans Superdome, where thousands of local residents are seeing refuge from Hurricane Katrina, to assisting with emergency evacuations.

http://homelandresponse.org/full_story.php?WID=13942

[soda]

17. typo?

The top Homeland Security official in New Orleans said bands of gunmen are rowing through New Orleans.?

[ovidsen]

18. I wish!

Okay, you made me smile. I didn't laugh, but I smiled. :)

[Endangered Specie]

22. Well, its pretty simple...

you see people roaming the guns with few or no cops in sight and a sense of everyman for himself, you cant tell me you wouldnt want to be armed too in that situation!

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. You know what the NRA says

If everyone has a gun, nobody is in danger...:eyes:

But seriously, if I was in NOLA right now, and I didn't have a gun, I'd do what I had to do to get one, for real.

[MrBenchley]

36. To quote Charlton Heston

"The sound of guns is the sound of freedom." But then he's a senile fuckwit.

By the way, one report I've seen says the guns at the WalMart weren't even locked up for security....

[cyr330]

41. Doesn't Matter

I don't imagine it would have made one hell of a difference if they had been locked up. If someone wants to steal something that badly, they're going to find a way. . . . That is sad but true.

[AnnInLa]

40. Alcibiades.....I agree with you, and never thought I would say this:

I live on the Gulf Coast and suffered thru the aftermath of Hurricane Lili, (in addition to others) which in no way compares with what is going on in N.O. I remember being scared to death, here in my home, with no power....until the Guard came in 2 days later. I absolutely have always hated guns (except for hunting), and would never have one in the house. I made my ex-hubby get rid of the gun he kept in his truck (and one time shot himself in the butt with). But, now I have changed my mind. Desperate people may do desperate things in desperate times...but, they do these desperate things to innocent people, making those people victims twice over. I am going to get a gun, and I'm going to learn how to use it. If a desperate person threatens me or a loved one...they will be desperate no more. This is a complete change of opinion by me...but, what I've seen and heard during this tragedy in N.O. has made me now a gun-advocate for personal protection. And yes, I know all the reasons why one shouldn't own a gun...I have spouted those reasons to many people. I have changed my mind.

[W2Hague]

61. Guns and Liberalism

I've caught a lot of shit for posting similar thoughts. But the fact of the matter is, better to have a gun and never need it than to NOT have a gun and really need it. This holds especially true for anyone with dependents that need protecting. If y'all don't have weapons to protect yourselves and your families with, then y'all are gonna end up becoming part of the Food Chain. Don't wait for desperate times. Arm yourselves and begin training now! Liberalism is a beautiful thing, but there is nothing I've ever read that stated you can't be a liberal and own a gun (or 10). Liberalism will die an ignoble death if we can't survive against the fascists and the gang-bangers.


Peace
(If they'll let'cha)
D.L. Bruin
http://www.bruindesign.com

[hollowdweller]

68. I've been a gun toting liberal since 1972

[Terran]

37. This is preposterous

Has there ever been such lawlessness following a natural disaster, anywhere in this county, in the last 150 years?? Where is our military?? And don't tell me they're all in Iraq--there are still enough forces in this country to maintain some semblance of order in one damn medium-sized city.

[cyr330]

42. New Orleans Crime Rate

New Orleans has been the most violent city in the country or at least in the top three since the early nineties. In 1994, they had MORE than 500 murders. This recent spate of violence is NOTHING new. I'm not the slightest bit surprised; in fact, if someone had asked me what to expect in this situation, I would have described exactly what's going on right now. What most people don't realize is that New Orleans is a terribly, terribly poor city that depends on tourism for its economic sustenance. The jobs evailable are chiefly in the service industry with poor hourly wages and amost non-existent benefits. Couple this poverty with a horrific natural disaster, and look what we get. . . . .

[demo dutch]

46. We all knew this was going to happen, no measures in place is somewhat

a lack of planning. The federal machine take 5 days to get into motion. It was the same with hurricane Andres in So. FL you would have thought that they learned from that one. But every new administration come in with a learning curve. There really should be a disaster agency that stays in place regardless of politics and administration, but I'm sure that's wishful thinking.

[cyr330]

51. I agree

The fact that New Orleans was incredibly vulnerable was not something new. I hesitate between saying they should have done more and saying that nobody could have predicted this chaos. Upon thinking about it, this situation was always on their "worst case scenario", and isn't that what one should plan for--the worst thing that can happen? I should just shut up; I'm safe & dry in San Francisco, and I have no business second guessing everyone down there who's wet, miserable, and hot. . . with no homes and worried about their families.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tin Man]

72. 25% of N.O. under poverty level - eom

[Schema Thing]

45. I'm not sure there isn't an at least somewhat valid excuse.

Thsi is Louisiana. You're in this crazy situation, you've probably lost everything. You probably have fears out the wazzooo, some valid, some not.

So you take some things. And you take guns, because you have heard about gators, and snakes, and now, sharks. And not only have you *heard* about these critters, you may have some personal experience; this is Louisiana after all. One thing you definitely have personal experience with, is other people; other people in urban ghettos.

Yeah, you might feel you need a gun, whether you do or not.

[inslee08]

47. First of all...

WHY THE HELL IS ANYONE STILL IN NEW ORLEANS?

(excepting emergency services and the like, of course)

[muwriter]

65. Good point. They may well die of dehydration

I doubt they realize that.

[ovidsen]

66. They couldn't leave.

Many people who stayed in New Orleans couldn't leave because they didn't have any money. If you're on Social Security, you get one check a month, at the beginning of the month. That's tomorrow.

Others tried to leave, but couldn't because the roads out were at a standstill. My heart goes out to them.

I used these sites to reach these conclusions:

New Orleans Times-Pickayune
http://www.nola.com/

WWL-TV New Orleans (channel 4) live feed
http://www.wwltv.com/

[rox63]

73. Lots of poor people

don't have cars. They were stuck in the city, unless they could somehow arrange another way out. Some of them had nowhere else to go, even if they could have gotten out.

[Oreegone]

53. This is just the place for Anarchists

They can get a little taste of how lovely it is when you have no infrastructure and the most aggressive survive. Anarchy does not mean rolling your own and listening to heavy metal. Sorry, it may seem off topic but really folks, this is what happens when there is no structure.

Looks like they planned as good here as they did in Iraq for the aftermath.

[AnnieBW]

79. Agreed...

All of those people with the circle A for anarchy - take a good look.

[Lilith Velkor]

86. Take a good look.

http://www.infoshop.org/faq/index.html That centralized authority thing doesn't seem to be working very well to me.

[Lilith Velkor]

85. No, anarchy does not mean those things

Here's a link if you want to know what it does mean: http://www.infoshop.org/faq/index.html

[slackmaster]

58. PLEASE stop referring to those people as looters

They're "undocumented shoppers".

:hide:

[muwriter]

59. Enough of this. Shoot armed looters, period.

New Orleans has a bad violent crime problem, and these idiots feel a need to capitalize on human tragedy. Going after water and food, I cna understand, even if food isn't the best idea right now due to contamination. Ripping off guns and goods is a different matter.

Saw Blanco on CNN and she was furious at the looting situation.

[yellowcanine]

70. Freedom is untidy, so says Donald Rumsfield. More lack of planning

by Bush. National guard should have been deployed Saturday when it was clear Katrina was going to hit the gulf coast.

[hollowdweller]

71. Is this some sort of karmic retribution for the chaos we brought to Iraq?

Talk about a judgement from God! Man! Think about the Bush years! Iraq fiasco, 9/11, Afghanistan, $3 a gallon gas, anarchy in the streets in NO. Can anything else go wrong or be screwed up???

Maybe people will make the connection but they need to remember it's not just Bush it's the REPUBLICANS in general.

[KamaAina]

74. Mad Max: Beyond Superdome

:spank: Bad KamaAina! Go to your room!

Nevertheless, that is very much what this sounds like.

And NOW Bush**co is mobilizing 10,000 Guardsmen?! Where in the Sam Hill were they earlier in the week??!! :grr:

[slackmaster]

81. Looks more like Waterworld to me

:scared:

[rman]

83. Seriously: the problem is not the water,

but the effects that it has on availability of clean water, food, mobility, law enforcment.
There are other scenarios that could have a similar effect, ie fuel shortages.

[drthais]

77. Just remember;

because these bands of thugs
are (a) refusing to be 'rescued'
and (b) threatening those who come to rescue them

they will, in the end, perish
there is no water, there is almost no food

and there won't BE any for a long long time

[gauguin57]

89. Thanks for the guns, Wal-Mart

Thanks a f*cking lot.