NRA Ready to Use Litigation to Stop U.S. Virgin Islands Gun, Ammo Confiscation

When U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp ordered the Virgin Islands National Guard into active duty pre-Hurricane Irma, he also authorized them to seize privately owned guns and ammunition. The NRA is making clear it is ready to go to court to stop the implementation of Mapp’s anti-Second Amendment order.

Breitbart News reported that Mapp ordered the National Guard to active duty for the purposes of “[maintaining] the health, welfare, and safety of the people of the Virgin Islands in the face of imminent danger or potential disaster from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irma.”

The order authorized the National Guard to seize privately owned firearms and ammo as part of carrying out their duty:

The Adjutant General is authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material and any other property that may be required by the military forces for the performance of this emergency mission.

NRA-ILA executive director Chris Cox is making clear that the NRA is ready to use a lawsuit to stop the order.

“People need the ability to protect themselves during times of natural disaster. This dangerous order violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and puts their lives at risk,” Cox said. “When 911 is non-existent and law enforcement personnel are overwhelmed with search-and-rescue missions and other emergency duties, law-abiding American citizens must be able to protect their families and loved ones. The NRA is prepared to pursue legal action to halt Gov. Mapp’s dangerous and unconstitutional order.”

The NRA was able to use a lawsuit to stop New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s (D) post-Hurricane Katrina firearm confiscation order. They plan to do the same in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.