Border Fence Bill Also To Protect Gun Owners From Ad Hoc Emergency Seizures
Written by Brian Garst, Posted in Gun Rights
From Volokh Conspiracy: Congress outlaws gun confiscation during disasters or emergencies.
This weekend, Congress passed, and sent to the President for his signature, the Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 5441. The Conference Report of the bill includes a variety of non-appropriations measures to enhance homeland security. The most notable of these is the construction 700 miles of fence along the portions of the Mexican border which are the main transit zones for illegal aliens. Also included in the legislation is a ban on gun confiscation during emergencies and natural disasters, to prevent a repeat of the post-Katrina abuses such as law enforcement officers breaking into homes and confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens.
It’s good to see this important issue resolved. During a time of emergency is precisely when people need their gun rights the most. When people are most vulnerable is precisely when the thugs are most likely to see opportunity. The need to defend oneself should not be dismissed for a false sense of security, as gun confiscation won’t protect the people from the thugs.
I serve as Vice President of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, a non-profit think tank dedicated to preserving tax competition and free markets. This site features my personal views, which are not reflective of CF&P.