Lindsey Graham: Hurricane Victims Need Assault Weapons To Shoot ‘Roaming Gangs’

lol even if you want a gun for home protection, seriously we just went through two hurricanes where I live and there were no roaming gangs or gangs that we needed to protect against.  I'm all for stating your case for wanting a gun but this is actually sickly humorous.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/03/06/1681261/lindsey-graham-hurricane-victims-need-assault-weapons-to-shoot-roaming-gangs/

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) pushed back against efforts to limit the availability of assault weapons during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday by echoing the paranoia of the National Rifle Association and insisting that Americans would need access to AR-15s to protect themselves from “roaming gangs” during natural disasters.

Speaking to Attorney General Eric Holder, Graham argued that an AR-15 would have been “a better defense tool” than “a double-barrel shotgun” in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina or Sandy:

GRAHAM: Let me give an example. That you have a lawless environment where you have a natural disaster or some catastrophic event and those things, unfortunately, do happen. And law and order breaks down because the police can’t travel, there’s no communication. And there are armed gangs roaming around neighborhoods. Can you envision a situation where if your home happens to be in the cross-hairs of this group that a better self-defense weapon may be a semiautomatic AR-15 versus a double-barrel shotgun?

HOLDER: I think we’re dealing there with a hypothetical in a world…

GRAHAM: Well, I’m afraid that world does exist. I think it existed in New Orleans, to some exist in Long Island, it could exist tomorrow if there’s a cyber attack against the country and the power grid goes down and the dams are released and chemical plants are discharges. [...] What I’m saying is if my family was in the cross-hairs of gangs that were roaming around New Orleans or any other location, that the turn effect of an AR-15 to protect my family is better than a double-barrel shotgun but the Vice President and I have a disagreement on that.

Watch it:



Holder pointed out that it’s unlikely that “New Orleans would have been better served with people with AR-15s in a post Katrina environment,” which was marked by chaos, violence and looting.

[brice1967]

Holder wanted Katrina's AR's so he could lose track to them in the hands of drug runners and drug king pins.  Holder should have no say on gun matters.... run runs around and just loses them.  Responsible gun owners and probably 1/2 of irresponsible gun owners don't "lose" guns.....  Holder does, and gets away with it.

Is that even explainable?  No outrage there, or are we just over that now?  Holder losing guns is slightly more dangerous than me going out and buying one.

[nygirl7]

You disagree with the marvelous McCain?

[teko]

Oh good grief! Lets just all go get asault weapons and start shooting each other and get it over with! It will make the morticians business the best of the 100 best corporations to work for.

[R Glass]

You're more than welcome to come down here when New Orleans gets hit with another Katrina. But that wouldn't be matching Apples to Apples.

[rivll]

Did anyone die from because of the "roaming hordes" during Katrina?

[teko]

Oh my, What did we ever ever do without assault weapons!

[brice1967]

Disagree with Mc Cain?  Often.... no big deal.  I am not the monster you think I am.  

R Glass... If I come down there after a hurricane to work?  Ill have guns... I had 3 friends there in the aftermath.  All private contractors who don't know each other and all worked for the FED....  None of them liked the environment.

[R Glass]

It doesn’t surprise me at the lack of knowing what happened in New Orleans after Katrina. For some reason The Main Stream Media didn’t focus much on it. I saw a lot of coverage on rescue but little on Crime and Body Recovery. (Last estimate 1,850 missing, only 1,300 Bodies Recovered) I bet you didn’t know the National Guard had to stay there for 3.5 years after the storm. I’m not down playing Sandy but like I said before, It’s nor matching Apples to Apples.

“On August 31, New Orleans's 1,500-member police force was ordered to abandon search and rescue missions and turn its attention toward controlling the widespread looting. The city also ordered a mandatory curfew. Mayor Nagin called for increased federal assistance in a "desperate S.O.S.", following the city's inability to control looting. He was often misquoted as declaring "martial law" in the city, despite there being no such term in Louisiana state law (a declaration of a state of emergency was instead made).[54] On the same day, Governor Kathleen Blanco announced the arrival of a military presence, stating that "they have M-16s and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will."[55] Despite the increased law enforcement presence, crime continued to be a problem. Relief efforts were constantly disrupted by violence, and there were reports of groups of armed men running rampant through the streets, looting and pillaging unattended buildings and stores. Charity Hospital, one of several facilities attempting to evacuate patients, was forced to halt the effort after coming under gunfire.[56] By September 1, 6,500 National Guard troops had arrived in New Orleans, and on September 2 Blanco requested a total of 40,000 for assistance in evacuation and security efforts in Louisiana.[57][58]
Some concern over the availability and readiness of the Louisiana National Guard to help stabilize the security situation was raised. Guardsman Lieutenant Colonel Pete had commented that "dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers, and generators were abroad."[59] At the time of the hurricane, approximately 3,000 members of the Guard were serving a tour of duty in Iraq. With total personnel strength of 11,000, this meant that 27% of the Louisiana National Guard was abroad.[60] However, both the White House and the Pentagon argued that the depletion of personnel and equipment did not impact the ability of the Guard to perform its mission—rather, impassable roads and flooded areas were the major factors impeding the Guardsmen from securing the situation in New Orleans.[citation needed]
Before Hurricane Katrina, the murder rate in New Orleans was ten times higher than the U.S. average. After the situation in New Orleans was brought under control, criminal activity in New Orleans dropped significantly”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina_in_New_Orleans



Guard to pull out of New Orleans after 3 1/2 years
Posted 2/27/2009 9:37 PM
· NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, the National Guard is pulling the last of its troops out of New Orleans this weekend, leaving behind a city still desperate and dangerous. Residents long distrustful of the city's police force are worried they will have to fend for themselves."I don't know if crime will go up after these guys leave. But I know a lot more of us will be packing our own pieces now to make sure we're protected," said Calvin Stewart, owner of a restaurant and store.


http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-02-27-katrina-nationalguard_N.htm

[rivll]

I am not defending the criminals who terrorized the people, but my question is did they actually kill anyone before the National Guard arrived?

I know many people drowned, I also know that the poor were left to fend for themselves and were also victims of these roving gangs.

I don't blame you for wanting to protect yourself should such an event arise again and I do believe that the ppl in charge seriously failed all the people. If I lived there I would want a weapon and I too would stand on my roof with it to protect my own, while I tried to rescue those ppl and critters floating by.
A terrible tragedy and I don't mean to downplay it.

[R Glass]

Yes there were many but we will never get an accurant count  because of the amount of bodies and the condition….. here is a link and you can read it yourself.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-17-katrina-missing_x.htm

[rivll]

How terrible. Over 1000 children missing???
According to this account, the deaths were due to the floods, not gunshots.

I really hope they have a better plan for the next catastrophe...Is it even worth rebuilding?

[Dee1956]

Really sad article, Katrina was a nightmare. I remember seeing the people on TV begging for help.  Then they showed President Bush saying Brownie was doing a great job. UGH