Follow up: Phoenix Rescuers Not Giving Up Armed Escorts

Written by Daniel White

Friday, 07 October 2005

The Arizona Republic is reporting that the Phoenix Fire Department is sticking to its guns, so to speak. The department informed FEMA in an official letter that their rescuers will continue to be accompanied by armed police officers while on operations deemed hazardous to their safety. So far, FEMA's response is that "a series of judgment errors" by Phoenix's team leaders "put that team, other teams and the victims they were rescuing at unnecessary risk." I think we should all be concerned about a federal agency that has such a huge bias against second amendment rights. (Click 'READ MORE' to continue...) As we've reported previously, the entire Gulf region affected by Katrina, but particularly in Louisiana, was a dangerous environment. There were reports of looters taking shots at rescue workers and widespread pillaging. If there was ever a place where rescue workers needed to be protected, it was in the aftermath of that hurricane. For FEMA to defy all logic by not only refusing to allow the rescue workers to be armed, but also suspending them after the fact for being accompanied by police officers, is a serious transgression that cannot be ignored. Consider this the test, folks. Let this one slide, and the illegal denial of the right to self protection will spread like a cancer wherever corrupt and misguided officials hold power over the huddled masses. Demand action by the federal government. FEMA is out of control and must be brought back in line. Not only should there have been no problem with police escorts, but the rescuers themselves should have the option of legally arming themselves in order to ensure their own safety. Asking anything less is a serious affront to our rights and freedoms.