New Orleans Mayor Finally Admits Illegal Gun Confiscation, Settles With NRA

After a three-year legal battle over the unconstitutional confiscation of lawfully owned firearms during Hurricane Katrina, this week, the City of New Orleans agreed to settle a lawsuit initiated by NRA.  A permanent injunction has been issued against the city, Mayor Ray Nagin, and current Police Chief Warren Riley.  The Second Amendment Foundation assisted NRA in the legal battle against Mayor Ray Nagin and the City of New Orleans. 

"This is an important victory for the citizens of New Orleans and the Second Amendment," said Wayne LaPierre, NRA's executive vice president. "We fought for three long years in a fundamental legal challenge to assert the inherent self-defense rights for law-abiding citizens, knowing the Constitution would prevail. Today it has prevailed and freedom has won." 

Judge Carl J. Barbier presided over the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Barbier signed the permanent injuncation against the City of New Orleans. The city admitted the firearm confiscations carried out by Nagin and Riley were unconstitutional and illegal. 

Under the terms of the injunction, Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Chief Warren Riley, and any agents or employees of the City of New Orleans must, among other things, cease and desist confiscating lawfully-possessed firearms from all citizens; make an aggressive attempt to return any and all firearms which may have been confiscated during the period August 29 to December 31, 2005; post on the City website the procedure for the return of confiscated firearms; and mail notices to all individuals who are identified on the property tags of firearms in the City's possession which were confiscated during the aftermath of Katrina. 

"On behalf of the lawful gun owners of New Orleans, NRA is pleased with this outcome," said NRA-ILA Executive director Chris W. Cox.  "We thank Judge Barbier for his leadership and constitutional scholarship in presiding over our lawsuit.  NRA will continue to aid however we can in the full return of all the firearms confiscated by the City."