Barbara Cubin: “I hail from a state where we cherish the fundamental Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. The…”

“I hail from a state where we cherish the fundamental Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. The Second Amendment is one of the most meaningful ways in which the founders of our great Nation worked to guarantee our freedom and liberty. Nowhere does the principle of liberty exist more fully than in the right to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. With the breakdown of law and order in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, thousands were confronted with grave threats to their health and safety. Calls to 911 went unanswered. Police failed to stop the violence and looting. Many of the law-abiding people of New Orleans were on their own to protect themselves. I was outraged that authorities illegally confiscated firearms from many of these citizens at the time they needed them most. The government rendered individuals and families defenseless and helpless in the face of imminent danger. In one case, a search and rescue team was banned from assisting in relief efforts because some of them had firearms. There are also reports of officials arbitrarily searching homes, cars, and boats in search of firearms. This is not only unacceptable, it is a violation of our Nation's Constitution. I cosponsored the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 to ensure that the confiscation of firearms in New Orleans will not become a precedent for crises in the future. H.R.…”