Looters in New Orleans
 

Anyone else get steamed after seeing pictures of people looting in New Orleans? Taking food is one thing but boxes of Timberlands? Televisions? Stereos?

I think those vultures should be shot on sight. :mad:

I completely agree with you. The food, water, etc I have no problem with anyone taking. Maybe some clothes- maybe, depending on how much you take. But there TVs, 30 football jerseys, beer(come on people, its just gonna dehydrate you more), radios, I have a problem.

I think the scariest looting, however, are the people who took all the guns from the Wal-Mart and other sports stores. Those people are now shooting at officers and others who are trying to help them. The newspapers were reporting of rooving bands of gunmen around the city. Now that is a shame because at some point, its going to get too dangerous for volunteers/rescue workers to get around the city and they'll have to pull out leaving people behind who otherwise could have been helped.

I just posted in the Hurricane Katrina thread... Just read that they are shooting at the military helicopters that are evacuating the sick and elderly from the Superdome so the helicopters had to stop.

This appears to be what starvation, dehydration and desperation do to some people.

Anyone who shoots at gun at those trying to rescue people deserves to be shot on sight themselves.

Why would you shoot at rescuers?

What is the logic behind that even??

-Rudey
--We need to declare martial law

In one news report there was a cop pushing around a shopping cart full of stuff just like every other looter.

When one of the former midshipmen we used to sponsor told me that when he was flying Navy relief missions in Indonesia he carried a gun, I immediately thought "What kind of idiot would try to hurt someone who is providing aid?"

I guess I overestimated people. Remind me not to do THAT again!

Many (not most, but many) of the people who ignored the evacuation order are the poorest of the poor, and of that population, some are of an evil persuasion. We're talking about the bottom rung of N.O. society. A gangbanger is not going to turn into a well-behaved good Samaritan in a time of crisis.


Edited for spelling

It has already been declared, Rudey.

I did a search and found this:
"Contrary to many media reports, martial law has not been declared in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, because no such term exists in Louisiana state law[4]. Rather, a state of emergency has been declared, which does give some powers similar to that of martial law. On the evening of August 31, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did declare "martial law" (in name at least) in the city and said that "officers don't have to worry about civil rights and Miranda rights in stopping the looters."


The thing is that on Good Morning America this morning they talked about how President Bush was considering declaring martial law. Maybe that's on the federal level or something...

-Rudey

The way I understand it, Louisiana is under the Napoleonic Code system of laws rather than the Common Law system that we have in the other 49 state. There exists no provision withinin their system of law to declare martial law.

I feel sorry for the lawyers that only know that system. They're going to have a hell of a time finding work.

If they can speak French they could always try Quebec....

As for Martial Law - the provision does not exist... but the provision to call in the military to render aid to the civil athourities does... unless Louisiana has modified that provision under the Napoleonic Code.

I am from New Orleans born and raised. Anyway, I pity those poor people who are looting. They honestly have nothing and they are looking for something they can grab on to and have as their own. I don't like to see them looting for TVs and other big things but food, well if I was hungry and desparate I might do the same thing.

I really think this shows just how poor some people are in our own USA. I think from now everyone should ONLY support local USA charities.

Hey does anyone know if any other countries are going to send aid or if the actors who did the Tsunami Relief stuff are going to do the same for Hurricane victims?

I'm just happy my family is alive from all of this...

Well, the Aceh area was filled with rebels and pirates (yes, pirates). The strait of malacca is one of the most dangerous sea way in the world when it come to pirates, even though it's one of the most important route for international trading. Then you have a breakdown of law and order where the police service for the province was completely wiped out.

There was a story where the Indonesian military was escorting NGOs into rebel areas and the rebels started shooting at the convoy. The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian military was nearby and heard the gunshots. The guy picked up a rifle and with his staff, he ran to the area and started to shoot back. Imagine the Chief of Staff for a military being in the frontline shooting back at the enemy.