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"New Orleans police giving back weapons confiscated post-Katrina
4/17/2006, 4:56 p.m. CT
By MARY FOSTER
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A handful of people showed up Monday to try to get back guns confiscated by the New Orleans Police Department after Hurricane Katrina — and not many of those walked away with a weapon.

"They told me the police took them the first two weeks after the hurricane, after that it was the ATF," said Charles Clark, 62, a retired law officer, who had an antique gun taken from his house after the Aug. 29 storm. "It's very frustrating. I know we had a storm and all, but there should be a way to find out who has your property."

Police, national guardsmen and military removed guns from houses during a search after the storm flooded the city, and they confiscated guns from some evacuees — leading to a lawsuit by gun-owner advocates including the National Rifle Association.

"Natural disasters may destroy great cities, but they do not destroy civil rights," said Alan Gottlieb, founder of Second Amendment Foundation, which joined the NRA in the suit.

Chief Warren Riley denied on Monday that his officers indulged in mass confiscations after the hurricane.

"If we took a gun from you and you were walking down the street, you went to jail," Riley said. "We took guns that were in homes. We took guns that were stolen that were stashed in alleyways. If we went into an abandoned house and a gun was there, absolutely we took the weapons. Obviously there were looters out there. We didn't want some burglar or looter to have an opportunity to arm themselves."

About 700 weapons were made available to owners beginning on Monday.

Those seeking a weapon must bring either a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number. Police also are running a criminal background check on anyone claiming a weapon.

"We were told 25 people went in to get their guns and eight left with their firearms," Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association, said Monday afternoon.

The NRA, meanwhile, was not ready to let the matter rest, saying the city and the police department took away people's means of protection at a time when there were widespread reports of lawlessness in the city. The organization scheduled a Tuesday "town meeting" to discuss the issue. And further legal action remains a possibility.

"The city said if we'd withdraw the suit they would return the guns." LaPierre said. "We have withdrawn it, reserving the right to file again."

Percy Taplet, 73, said the national guard and state police confiscated his shotgun from his house when they evacuated him. He said he kept it for protection at his house and adjoining business.

Police told him he would have to contact state police about the weapon.

"I won't ever see that gun again believe me," Taplet said. "It's gone like everything else in that storm."

Although a few people emerged from the police trailer with their weapons, many others were turned away.

Some found the guns were evidence in a crime and were not eligible for release. Others did not have the proper paperwork to get their guns. And for some the work of tracking down their weapons was just beginning.

Robert Evans, 40, was trying to get the Ruger P90, semiautomatic hand gun his wife surrendered to ATF agents at the New Orleans airport.

"The agent gave her a business card, but he never answers his phone," Evans said.

He came out without his gun but with a couple of new phone numbers.

"That's OK," Evans said. "Those were confusing times. I'm not mad, just trying to get my property back.""