David Vitter: “this involves gun confiscation during major disasters or emergencies. My amendment is very simple and straightforward.…”

“this involves gun confiscation during major disasters or emergencies. My amendment is very simple and straightforward. It would prevent any sort of confiscation of legally held guns protected by the second amendment during major disasters or emergencies. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, local and Federal law enforcement officials were overwhelmed in many ways by the tragedy that unfolded. That is understandable. During the chaos, a criminal element took advantage of the tragedy and started to commit serious crimes against persons and property. In many cases, law-abiding citizens took action and defended their property and themselves through the constitutionally guaranteed second amendment right to bear arms. There is probably no more important or significant moment in normal, everyday American life where that second amendment right meant something. In some cases, it was literally the difference between a law-abiding citizen's life or death and between that citizen's ability to protect his property or have it completely taken away. Yet in the midst of that situation, where that constitutionally guaranteed right was so important, even far more important than in an everyday situation--although it is certainly crucial then--certain law enforcement authorities confiscated legally held firearms by law- abiding citizens. Not a few, not a dozen, not two dozen, but literally thousands were confiscated by law enforcement officials.…”