Twenty years ago, New Orleans officials ordered law-abiding citizens to give up their firearms in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Then-Mayor C. Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent P. Edwin Compass infamously declared, “Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.”
That unconstitutional order triggered immediate lawsuits by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the National Rifle Association.
Within days, a federal consent order forced police to stop the seizures. Later that year, Congress acted, with President George W. Bush signing protections into law to bar future gun confiscations during emergencies.
Alan Gottlieb, SAF’s founder and executive vice president, shot straight:
“In the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters this country has ever seen, the mayor and law enforcement unthinkably decided to go door-to-door confiscating firearms when citizens needed them most. This case serves as a great reminder of why SAF must continue its critical work.”
SAF’s Ongoing Work
Two decades later, SAF is still carrying that fight. The group has more than 50 active lawsuits nationwide, taking on:
- “Assault weapon” bans
- Magazine capacity limits
- Restrictions on young adult carry
- “Sensitive places” bans
- Red flag laws without due process
They’ve also petitioned the Supreme Court to review two landmark cases—one on “assault weapons” and another on the 18–20 handgun purchase ban.
Most recently, SAF and its partners filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act, marking another front in their long campaign to restore gun rights.
Why It Matters
SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut said it plainly: “The New Orleans firearms confiscation fiasco is a perfect example of why SAF continues to work across the nation to defend, secure and restore our Second Amendment rights.”
Kraut added that despite many victories, the danger of government overreach remains: “There are those in this nation who wish to make the Second Amendment a second-class right, and we will continue to fight to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
The message is clear: what happened in New Orleans can never be repeated. And two decades later, SAF is still standing guard.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
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– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
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I was deployed to Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina support. I saw first hand the property destruction that was created. That people weren’t allowed to defend themselves and their property was appalling. Never again should the government try to confiscate legally owned firearms!
I still remember those cops that attacked the grandma holding a gun. I think they were California Highway Patrol.
Florida had confiscation of firearms in it’s statutes during times of emergencies up to this past year! Small towns (municipalities) had gun confiscation ordinances up to 2022 during times of emergencies. It’s more pervasive than one imagines.