The big story making the rounds in the firearms community today is Hurricane Earl and the State of Emergency that has been declared in North Carolina. As Earl continues toward a glancing blow to the Outer Banks, North Carolina Governor Beverly Purdue signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency. Among other things, a State of Emergency in NC creates a “gun free zone” with the following statute:
§ 14 288.7. Transporting dangerous weapon or substance during emergency; possessing off premises; exceptions.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to transport or possess off his own premises any dangerous weapon or substance in any area:
(1) In which a declared state of emergency exists; or
(2) Within the immediate vicinity of which a riot is occurring.
(b) This section does not apply to persons exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14 269 with respect to any activities lawfully engaged in while carrying out their duties.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1969, c. 869, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 192; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
As we have all (hopefully) learned from Katrina in 2005, a “gun free zone” during a time of emergency does nothing to promote safety. In fact, it does exactly the opposite, as only the criminals will have the guns. The New Orleans PD was nowhere to be found, and criminals had their pick of helpless citizens who had no means of protecting themselves. The Super Dome had a strict "no weapons" policy in place, and there are probably very few among us who don't recall the squalid and dangerous conditions that were reportedly found inside that "sanctuary."
This is yet another wake-up call for all states (like Iowa) that do not specifically have a provision in state law to prevent just such a situation from taking place. In the wake of Katrina, some states have seen the light and passed explicit laws that bar governments from removing a citizen's right to keep & carry firearms simply because an “emergency” exists. In a time of crisis, that's when protection is needed the most. Public safety officials will be spread very thin, and your safety becomes your primary business. You should never be prohibited from employing the most effective tool for self defense based simply on the stroke of a pen. Furthermore, it is patently illegal to remove anyone's Constitutional rights simply because any elected official thinks "it's the right thing to do" because of an emergency or any other situation. Our rights do not exist only at certain times! They exist at ALL times, regardless of the situation.
Iowa needs to make sure that this never happens here. Let's work together to make this positive change in the 2011 legislative session.
Comments
This should be a top priority for Iowa Firearms Coalition to work on the next session. That and a castle doctrine. I spoke to Senator Paul McKinley about castle doctrine several times over the last 2 or 3 years and he is on board. It's time for Iowa to quit being a run and hide state. I for one, refuse to run and hide if there are intruders in my house. I will me them with equal or greater force and take my chances. Thankfully I know a couple really good lawyers.
b) This section does not apply to persons exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14 269 with respect to any activities lawfully engaged in while carrying out their duties.
Since it’s been a moral obligation and duty for all adult males to provide, keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, family, other persons, property and possessions since before the Great State of North Carolina even existed, this exemption must be for every adult male what ain’t usin’ this emergency to plunder and pillage,---you know like the N’orleans pole-lice, Nguard soldiers, Fed. agents and Leo’s from all over the country did during Katrina.
Now if, for some illogical and immoral reason legislators what rote this law had it in their mind to make it illegal for Citizens to fulfill their duties in a time of emergency, or carry their firearms with them if they’re forced to vacuate, then anyone tryin’ to disarm ’em would be a criminal and they’ve got the right to, and by all rights ought to, deal with them accordingly.
Simple as that.
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