Ex-cop pleads guilty in Katrina shootings

A former police lieutenant pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to obstruct justice after federal officials say he helped cover for officers who killed two people in the chaos following Hurricane Katrina.

Federal investigators say former Lt. Michael Lohman knew two people shot to death as they crossed the Danziger Bridge had no weapons, but he and others filed false reports to make the shootings seem justified. Four other people were wounded.

To serve and protect.

Suspect shot during break-in found at hospital

Shreveport, LA:

Caddo Parish Deputies say they’ve made an arrest related to an early Thursday morning home invasion.

Investigators say the break-in happened just after 3 am at a home in the 1100 block of Oak Grove Lane. According to deputies, the homeowner was awakened when he heard someone kicking in the front door of his house. The homeowner said he grabbed a handgun, and when the suspect came into the bedroom, the homeowner shot at the suspect several times. The suspect then ran from the house.

Deputies found an “AK-47″ dropped near the door the intruder had kicked in.

Via the NRA-ILA:

On June 11, the top law enforcement officials of nearly half the states signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, expressing their opposition to reinstatement of the federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.

“We share the Obama Administration’s commitment to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime within the United States. We also share your deep concern about drug cartel violence in Mexico. However, we do not believe that restricting law-abiding Americans’ access to certain semi-automatic firearms will resolve any of these problems,” the letter said.

The letter notes congressional opposition to bringing back the ban, and calls for increasing enforcement of existing laws.

We encourage NRA members to let these state officials know we appreciate them standing up to the incessant clamor for gun control that is currently coming from anti-gun groups and their media allies.

The 23 state Attorneys General, in alphabetical order, by state, are:
(more…)

Couldn’t see this coming:

Suspect detained over ‘extremist’ bumper sticker

A Louisiana driver was stopped and detained for having a “Don’t Tread on Me” bumper sticker on his vehicle and warned by a police officer about the “subversive” message it sent, according to the driver’s relative.

The situation developed in the small town of Ball, La., where a receptionist at the police department told WND she knew nothing about the traffic stop, during which the “suspect” was investigated for “extremist” activities, the relative said.

The flag some of our founders fought under is ‘extremist.’

On a related note, I’ve had a DTOM magnet on the back of my car for several years. It was a snake in the shape of the ribbons so popular these days. I gave a bunch out as Christmas gifts one year to friends and family.

A few weeks ago, someone stole the magnet off my car. Jerks. I wonder if it was the same people who stole the US flag off of our front porch one weekend while we were away.

I’ve ordered quite a bit of gear from Gadsden and Culpepper over the years. Good stuff. Check ‘em out and tell ‘em Murdoc sent you.

National Guard set to pull out of New Orleans

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.

Well, unless the cops come knocking on your door to confiscate them again.

Police Superintendent Warren Riley says “we’re ready to handle things.” We all hope he means handle crime and security and not handle regular citizens out of their legal firearms. (Be sure to read Gordon Hutchinson’s The Great New Orleans Gun Grab if you haven’t already.)

To be honest, I don’t think I knew there were still any NG units in New Orleans. Apparently it was down to only a few dozen. But three and a half years later?

In less than four years our military stabilized the region and re-established law, order, and democracy for its citizens.

Yes, that’s sarcasm. Barely.

Pathetic.

Gordon Hutchinson at The Shootist:

I worry about this.

We know the vast majority of the citizenry either likes guns, or has no problem with them. But the fact is a large portion of these friendly but not-very-knowledgeable gun folks are not highly offended by the prospect of gun registration.

Having to register your firearms is not the same thing as having to register your car to use it on public roads, needing a library card to check books out of a library, or being required to use your real name when signing up for Facebook.

Thibodaux, Louisiana:

Police responding to a report of a man shot just after 8 p.m. found 34-year-old Lee Diggs of 534 St. Charles St. lying on the ground near the Turner Motel with gunshot wounds to the hip and stomach areas, Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon said.

Just after officers arrived, Melancon said, they were approached by Terrence Triggs of Schriever, who told them he believed he had shot a man who was trying to rob him through his truck’s driver-side window.

Diggs used a “small-caliber” handgun during the unsuccessful robbery attempt, which was taken and hidden by an at-large accomplice, but it was later found by police. More details at CGSDB.

Court Decision on New Orleans Confiscations Angers Gun Culture

Gordon Hutchinson, co-author of The Great New Orleans Gun Grab, weighs in on recent news regarding the longstanding practice of cops taking guns in the Big Easy.

James Rummel writes about the illegal post-Katrina firearm confiscations in New Orleans, pointing out that the NRA lawsuit to have the gun finally returned to their rightful owners has been settled.

I’m not holding my breath on this really working.

HB 68 has been introduced in the Louisiana house, an “assault weapons ban” that includes a bunch of .22LR rifles.

Go read.