President George W. Bush recently signed legislation that included language based on H.R. 5013, the “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act,” to prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during states of emergency. Passage of this legislation became a top priority of NRA following confiscations of lawfully-owned firearms by local officials in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prior to the President’s recent action, NRA led the charge in passing “emergency powers” laws in 10 states. This new law was part of the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.
“I want to thank President George W. Bush for signing this vital measure into law,” declared NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “The chaos and civil disorder our country witnessed in New Orleans after the city effectively suspended the Second Amendment confirmed every law-abiding gun owner’s worst fear - that gun confiscations can happen right here in America. As promised, NRA set out to pass legislation at both the federal and state levels to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens.”
The Homeland Security amendment was based on H.R. 5013, the “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act,” which was introduced in the House by Congressman Bobby Jindal, R-La., and passed the House on July 25 with a broad bi-partisan margin of 322 to 99. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced the Senate version of the bill. Sen. Vitter also championed the first Senate action on a different version of the appropriations amendment, which passed in July by an 84 to 16 vote, one the largest margins of victory ever for an NRA-backed measure.
“The essence of the ‘Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act’ was so compelling that it received strong, bipartisan support in Congress,” continued Cox. “When 911 is non-existent and law enforcement personnel are overwhelmed with search-and-rescue missions and other emergency duties, law-abiding Americans must have legal protection to defend their families and loved ones in times of emergency. The NRA is honored to have helped guarantee this fundamental freedom.”
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