October 5, 2005

U. S. Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 4706
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear General Glenn Fine,

On September 23, the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District in Louisiana issued a restraining order to stop authorities from confiscating firearms.

This was certainly good news, as there had been various press reports of gun confiscations by military and police in connection with the destruction done by Hurricane Katrina.

ABC News video on September 8 showed National Guard troops going house-to-house, smashing through doors, searching for residents, and confiscating guns. Oklahoma National Guardsmen were even pictured handcuffing residents of an upscale home that was free and clear of any flood water and taking their guns as well.

Similarly, a local California station (KTVU) aired video showing authorities tackling an elderly New Orleans woman, and confiscating her weapons. She was then forcibly evicted, despite the fact that flood waters had not come near her home.

On September 9, The Washington Post reported that U.S. Marshals were involved in the gun confiscations in New Orleans. JoAnn Guidos is the owner of a local bar who was more than prepared to defend her establishment. Her beer was cold; her ice was staying frozen -- thanks to generator that was keeping her refrigerated products ready for her customers, who were just beginning to return to the neighborhood. But once her guns were stolen by the Marshals, she was forced to leave.

On the same day, The New York Times reported that police were confiscating firearms, "even those legally owned." And the Associated Press quoted New Orleans Police Commissioner Edwin Compass as saying, "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons."

This is not the American way. This is not the vision of our Founding Fathers... that this great country would become a totalitarian regime where only the police and military had firearms.

Gun Owners of America represents thousands of gun owners in the state of Louisiana, and we consider the above actions to be outrageous, illegal and unconstitutional.

Given the fact that the courts have now issued a restraining order to put a stop to these unlawful activities, we would ask you to investigate who are the guilty parties who need to be held accountable for perpetrating these harmful acts against innocent Americans.

Gun Owners of America would respectfully request that you investigate whether these actions represent theft under 18 U.S.C. 654 or a violation of civil rights under 18 U.S.C. 241.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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"Given the fact that the courts have now issued a restraining order to put a stop to these unlawful activities, we would ask you to consider legal charges against the guilty parties who authorized and perpetrated these harmful acts against innocent Americans.