New Orleans gun confiscation -does not apply to rich and their bodyguards?

[papau]

How the heck is excluding the rich legal? - And my carry permit does not say can be revoked in times of a flood. Is a carry permit really that weak?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/national/nationalspecial/09storm.html?oref=login

Police Begin Seizing Guns of Civilians


By ALEX BERENSON and JOHN M. BRODER
Published: September 9, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 8 - Local police officers began confiscating weapons from civilians in preparation for a forced evacuation of the last holdouts still living here, as President Bush steeled the nation for the grisly scenes of recovering the dead that will unfold in coming days.

<snip>

Mr. Compass, the police superintendent, said that after a week of near anarchy in the city, no civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns, or other firearms of any kind. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.

That order apparently does not apply to the hundreds of security guards whom businesses and some wealthy individuals have hired to protect their property. The guards, who are civilians working for private security firms like Blackwater, are openly carrying M-16s and other assault rifles.

Mr. Compass said that he was aware of the private guards but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons.<snip>

[tk2kewl]

1. If all you've got to protect is your life who cares...

but if you've got some property, fire away.

Welcome to the ownership society.

[lindisfarne]

2. There was a report yesterday of some rich people in Garden Dist (?)

having their guns confiscated; there was a picture of them handcuffed. I think they were released and allowed to stay.

[tk2kewl]

4. I guess they weren't rich enough

[Kagemusha]

3. It's technically not excluding the rich. It's excluding licensed guards

Though I don't understand how removing guns from civilians with legal permits is consistent with the constitution. I've said that before and, I'm waiting to hear someone say otherwise.

[unrepuke]

5. Where's Moses when ya need him? . . . er, I mean Charlton Heston

[ManiacJoe]

6. One would have thought that the

possibility of these orders being illegal would have come up during a briefing somewhere....

[struggle4progress]

7. Laws: We know what they are, and what they are worth! They are spider webs

for the rich and mighty, steel chains for the poor and weak, fishing nets in the hands of the government. - Pierre Joseph Proudhon