You know how they say it’s virtually impossible to kill any government program once it’s in place…because someone always benefits and it develops its own interested constituency? Yes, well it seems that the authority to confiscate firearms works pretty much the same way. At least it does in the territories of the US Virgin Islands.
You may remember that back in September, as Hurricane Irma was bearing down on the Caribbean, USVI Governor Kenneth Mapp declared a state of emergency and signed an order authorizing law enforcement agencies and the National Guard to confiscate residents’ firearms and ammuntion.
The order stated that,
The Adjutant General is authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material or any other property that may be required by the military forces for the performance of this emergency mission in accordance with the Rules of Force promulgated by the Virgin Island National Guard and approved by the Virgin Island Department of Justice.
Because who would possibly have cause to defend their life or property in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster?
Anyway, Hurricanes Irma and Maria have long since come and gone (five people died and thousands lost their homes). But, as the Daily Caller is reporting, Governor Mapp has seen fit to extend the authorities’ right to confiscate Virgin Islanders’ weapons. Although he poo-poo’s the idea that it’s a gun grab.
Gov. Mapp told TheDC in a phone interview Thursday that the national guard “is not authorized to take arms and munitions from civilians,” and complained that he continues to receive “foolish” questions about this.
The Sept. 4 order, however, explicitly gives authorization to “seize” arms and ammunition.
Mapp said that this language is in “every declaration or activation of the national guard” that came before he took office. And added that it doesn’t allow Adjunct General Deborah Howell to “take weapons from civilians without proper compensation.”
Well, as long as he says so….
You can read the renewal of the order here. Whether or not any Virgin Islander’s guns have actually been taken, the authority to do so is still in force. And experience and common sense would tell you that any legal authority given the government — and plenty that isn’t — will, at some point, be exercised.
Or is that too tin foil hat of us?
Still waiting for President Trump to restore 2nd amendment rights to my Eastern Com Bloc State…Maybe the RINO in Congress will step up this platform and provide constitutional relief to these civil rights challenged areas! Still awaiting a revival in the USA and our US Constitutional-Bill of Rights…
And you’ll keep on waiting. No government, left right communist or Capitalist, has any interest in its citizens being armed.
And where’s the NRA? Oh wait they’re too busy pushing gun control.
Still looks like Idi Amin!
As a USVI resident, I don’t know of any guns being seized. I agree with Mapp on this one, this is just silliness. They’ve got bigger things to worry about. Our USVI Police commissioner and Governor have been very supportive of the rights of lawful citizens to be armed. The commissioner is the best we’ve had in years. Stop spreading this nonsense.
Larry…MAPP?!? We do know how to read in the USA proper😖😫😎
The best you have had is a long way from being almost okay. Registration, and permission to buy, and not even a provision for concealed carry equal less than acceptable.
I’m starting to have some doubts about this site
Went back and read the emergency order and it was renewed Dec 1 2017. Sorry Larry you are the lobster that is in the pot that doesnt realize it is being boiled.
“take weapons from civilians without proper compensation.”
I believe my idea of proper compensation would differ greatly from their’s…………..
Acceptable compensation: a firearm of equal or greater capacity and quality.
No not even close bud.
Republicans should seriously consider what happens if they don’t use their majority to deliver protection to the People of the Gun right now while they still have a majority.
They already got beat bad in Virginia this past November (lost 17 seats there) and are going to get their butts whipped in the national 2018 election.
They’ve failed to deliver the SAFE Act, failed to deliver national reciprocity, failed, failed, failed.
If they don’t act now, it will be worse than 1994, worse than 1986. If the Dems get the upper hand in this environment, they will initiate national registration and national confiscation.
It’s not “if”, it’s “when” the Dems get the upper hand. They will long have lost patience. Expect their revenge on us to be horrible and swift. Prepare accordingly.
The last time the democrats got control of Congress, they trashed the economy, the DOW lost more than half it’s value, the Unemployment Rate more than doubled and our mortgage institutions were nearly destroyed.
Anyone who votes for a return to hat a has a bad case of shitferbrains.
Good luck with that…New York tried…and even they admit it is a failure…most people did not register…and good for them for NOT doing so…
Quick lets petition for immediate review by the Supreme Court! Oh wait, they have abrogated their constitutional duty to defend the 2nd Amendment. Go right ahead and take our guns. Its not like anyone is going to stop you.
‘…or any other property that may be required by the military forces for the performance of this emergency mission…’
Why would the National Guard need your weapons or any other property? My guess is this is a carte blanche order that they can take anything they want if they can justify the need for it to support their mission. In this case, there’s no need to specify weapons, as it will only ruffle a lot of feathers unnecessarily. However, until I hear about actual seizures, this isn’t at all like New Orleans where weapons were actually seized, not out of need but ‘for your own protection’.
If I got robbed or assaulted or had my home invaded after being disarmed…the government would see a billion dollar class-action lawsuit in a heartbeat…just sayin’…
if you take the guns, you damn well better be prepared to show up and defend people when they need it…or pay the price for not being able to do so
when seconds count…cops are minutes away…right?
It has already been estabished that if police fail to protect, that they cannot be sued.
“It was never intended that they act affirmatively, prior to or during criminal activity or violence against individual citizens. … Because the police have no general duty to protect individuals, judicial remedies are not available for their failure to protect.” -Warren v. District of Columbia
Ref. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=9108468254125174344&q=warren-v-district-of-columbia&hl=en&as_sdt=2006
This is still an emergency? If the “emergency’ lasts until all consequences from the storms have disappeared, it’s gonna be goin on for a while. Sadly, the convenience of “emergency measures” tends to make the new rules stick. France’s “emergency” search, seizure, & surveillance are still in place.
When it’s done arriving, it’s no longer an emergency.
When you’re done responding to it’s sudden arrival, it’s no longer a crisis.
If you’re solving things, eventually even an emergency becomes a crisis, maybe a disaster, then a problem, a trade-off, and at last just a cost. Re-upping an emergency order looks like they’re stuck in permanent disaster.
So if the NRA and I butt heads they sick Moms Demand Action against me then,they cause trouble and call me a ” sexist pig” , I’m not particularly familier with that species. Could you tell me about it please.,,. Moms I think your NRA is callling
This shouldnt surprise anyone …. the ” Emergency War Powers Act ” is still in place , renewed by congress, no doubt enhanced by the UN patriot Act.