The Legislature is currently meeting in its 1st Extraordinary Legislative Session since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to deal primarily with critical financial matters affecting the state. This week, they passed HCR 39 by Representative Steve Scalise (R-Metairie), a resolution urging Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) to include legislation amending the state’s emergency powers law in the items to be considered during a broader Extraordinary Session expected in January.
As you’ll recall, law enforcement officials working for, or under the direction of, the City of New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish abused their authority under this law and confiscated legally-owned firearms from law-abiding citizens trying to protect themselves, their homes, and their families after Katrina hit. NRA sought, and was granted, a temporary restraining order in federal court stopping this practice and requiring officials to return the guns to their rightful owners. We’ll keep you posted!