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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_la_katrina_confiscated_guns.html
January 2, 2008
Judge postpones trial for lawsuit over guns seized after Katrina
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge has agreed to postpone a trial for a lawsuit
that the National Rifle Association filed against city officials for seizing
hundreds of guns in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.
Last week, NRA attorneys said the lobbying group needs more time to search
for hundreds of gun owners whose firearms were confiscated by New Orleans
police following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier agreed Friday to reschedule a Feb. 19 trial
for the case. A new trial date is expected to be picked during a telephone
conference with the judge later this month.
The NRA and Second Amendment Foundation, a Bellevue, Wash.-based advocacy
group, sued New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren
Riley over the city's seizure of more than 1,000 guns that weren't part of
any criminal investigation after Katrina.
The groups accuse the city of violating gun owners' constitutional right to
bear arms. Riley has said most of the guns were found in abandoned homes or
were taken from people trying to board evacuation buses or enter shelters
after the storm.
In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim
if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's
serial number. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation,
said last week that police only have returned about 100 of the seized guns.
January 2, 2008
Judge postpones trial for lawsuit over guns seized after Katrina
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge has agreed to postpone a trial for a lawsuit
that the National Rifle Association filed against city officials for seizing
hundreds of guns in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.
Last week, NRA attorneys said the lobbying group needs more time to search
for hundreds of gun owners whose firearms were confiscated by New Orleans
police following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier agreed Friday to reschedule a Feb. 19 trial
for the case. A new trial date is expected to be picked during a telephone
conference with the judge later this month.
The NRA and Second Amendment Foundation, a Bellevue, Wash.-based advocacy
group, sued New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren
Riley over the city's seizure of more than 1,000 guns that weren't part of
any criminal investigation after Katrina.
The groups accuse the city of violating gun owners' constitutional right to
bear arms. Riley has said most of the guns were found in abandoned homes or
were taken from people trying to board evacuation buses or enter shelters
after the storm.
In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim
if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's
serial number. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation,
said last week that police only have returned about 100 of the seized guns.
