By confiscating the guns of lawful gun owners, the police forces in New Orleans have effectively suspended a part of the Constitution. Their excuse is that they have the right to do their job without fear of being shot at and as the situation may get worse, law abiding citizens may turn to lawlessness to survive.

So, is this a legal action? Is a civic emergency grounds to suspend Constitution rights?

Let's start by going back to the basics and remember what the Bill of Rights are about. They are restrictions on the power of the government. They define rights of citizens that are inherent in being a human and predate the formation of the government. They are not rights that are granted by the government to its citizens. On the contrary, the government exists because we the people say it does and only has the powers we grant it.

So, can the government suspend the Second Amendment in the face of civic emergencies or civil unrest. No. Because the government did not 'grant' any rights defined by the Bill of Rights, they have no power to suspend those rights.

We are not suggesting that the police should be subject to attack. On the contrary, any fire on any rescue workers should be met with overpowering force until the attackers are not able to attack again. (Read: killed). As a matter of fact, unarmed rescue workers should be able to request and receive arms for self defense. Just the same, law abiding citizens have the right and should have the power to defend themselves against looters, etc.

Giving orders to collect lawful firearms is giving an illegal order. Following illegal orders is also illegal. Remember the infamous Nazi matra: "I was just following orders". Those who gave such orders and those who followed them should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The police forces patrolling New Orleans are subject to the same laws that the rest of the citizens are.

And what about stores like Walmart that ended firearm sales in the face of the situation. As a private enterprise, it is their right to decide their policies. And as a consumer it is my right to decide to never buy from them.

Questions of equipment and supplies should never be asked at the time they are needed. Preparation is the key. A 'grab and go bag' is not a bag that you grab to go to the store with. Time is of the essence and such travel may not be safe. Get ready now and you won't have to worry about the Walmarts not selling guns or the grocery stores being looted. You will be ready at the moment of greatest stress.