RCMP breaking into homes in flooded High River, AB to steal guns.

[CathyInBlue]

‘Absolutely Incredible’: Canadians Outraged After Flooding Prompts Involuntary Firearm Confiscation | TheBlaze.com

The community of High River, Alberta is flooded. (Yeah, I don't get that either, but Terre Haute flooded just a bit and the names are similar, so, meh.) Residents with guns locked in safes in the basement generally just moved them to the upstairs bedrooms, packed their bags, and headed for the hills to escape rising floodwaters. The RCMP then formed a protective cordon around the town to actually prevent looting.

Now, here's the Liberal Bizarro World part of the story. Everything would seem to be done with this natural disaster but the laundry when the police decided with everyone literally out of town, it would be a good idea to swim (boat, wade, paddle, whatever) house to house, kick in front doors under the guise of wellness/safety checks, and when they happen upon these unattended firearms in otherwise locked and secured private homes… seize them and take them to the impound for "safekeeping".

When confronted about it, the RCMP spokesman claimed that it was because firearms are expensive and they didn't want them to get stolen. Huh? Everyone's gone and you have all the roads blocked! Who's getting in to steal them. Oh, right, you guys. Confronted about whether they also impounded all jewels and precious metals items found, the RCMP spokesman shifted gears and said that it was because the guns are "dangerous". Okay, so did you confiscate all bows, arrows, swords, and kitchen cutlery you happened on as well? Uh, no.

For the Indiana perspective, we have, IC 10-14-3-33.5:

IC 10-14-3-33.5
Regulation of firearms
Sec. 33.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the state, a political subdivision, or any other person may not prohibit or restrict the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display, or use of firearms or ammunition during:
(1) a disaster emergency;
(2) an energy emergency; or
(3) a local disaster emergency;
declared under this chapter.
(b) Subsection (a) does not authorize the possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display, or use of firearms or ammunition during an emergency described in subsection (a):
(1) in or on school property, in or on property that is being used by a school for a school function, or on a school bus in violation of IC 20-33-8-16 or IC 35-47-9-2;
(2) on the property of:
(A) a child caring institution;
(B) an emergency shelter care child caring institution;
(C) a private secure facility;
(D) a group home; or
(E) an emergency shelter care group home;
in violation of 465 IAC 2-9-80, 465 IAC 2-10-79, 465 IAC 2-11-80, 465 IAC 2-12-78, or 465 IAC 2-13-77;
(3) on the property of a penal facility (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-232);
(4) in violation of federal law;
(5) in or on property belonging to an approved postsecondary educational institution (as defined in IC 21-7-13-6(b));
(6) on the property of a domestic violence shelter; or
(7) on property owned, operated, controlled, or used by an entity that:
(A) is required to:
(i) conduct a vulnerability assessment; and
(ii) develop and implement a site security plan;
under the United States Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards issued April 9, 2007; or
(B) is required to have a security plan under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-295.
As added by P.L.90-2010, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.17-2011, SEC.1; P.L.114-2012, SEC.22.

Apparently, there's something substantively similar in Alberta and local residents and barristers (read: attorneys) are screaming bloody murder at the RCMP over the thefts.

 

[Mark 1911]

They must have been watching the news when Katrina hit New Orleans. After all, if they can get away with it in the US, why not Canada too? Very sad.

When and if these folks get their property back, then who pays for the kicked in doors, gun safes, re-carpeting, painting, etc...?

 

[armedhoosier451]

When and if these folks get their property back, then who pays for the kicked in doors, gun safes, re-carpeting, painting, etc...?

No kidding! I would be super ticked off if this would happen to me or my loved ones, or anyone for that matter. Thankfully we have laws protecting against this and know them!

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Confronted about whether they also impounded all jewels and precious metals items found, the RCMP spokesman shifted gears and said that it was because the guns are "dangerous".

Nice save on the RCMP spox's part. They should ask the mounties...they might say "jewels? Precious metals? Um....we didn't see any jewels or precious metals...or cash either. Yeah, we absolutely saw no cash....or cool electronics."

 

[in625shooter]

While many here do not like it when other countries/people from there (think Pierce Morgan here) say things about the US maybe we should practice the same. As far as other countries policies it don't really matter what we think!!!

 

[mrjarrell]

Beat me to it, Cathy. Here's a non regurgitated post from the National Post that is really good. If these people had access to their firearms I have no doubt those mounties would be in a world of hurt, as they should be.

High River flood: Guns seized by police as angry residents confront RCMP | Canada | News | National Post

 

[9mmfan]

That is utterly ridiculous! I dare say that in small town USA, the citizens would have wondered off and just walked into town where their are no barricades set up. Or the small town cops would have helped the residents get back into town.

 

[gunman41mag]

That's why they should have bobby trap their house when they left

 

[MikeDVB]

That's why they should have bobby trap their house when they left

Is that where you hide bobbies behind trap doors or what?

 

[CathyInBlue]

While many here do not like it when other countries/people from there (think Pierce Morgan here) say things about the US maybe we should practice the same. As far as other countries policies it don't really matter what we think!!!

Except that in this case, the other country's police aren't even following their own laws. It is instructive for us to pay attention to all of the gun laws of our neighbors to the north. American and Canadian gun control proponents have something of a mutual osmotic relationship going. As goes one, so goes the other.

And it's only England whose police are called Bobbies. Still, interesting play on words.

 

[Mr. Habib]

(1) in or on school property, in or on property that is being used by a school for a school function, or on a school bus in violation of IC 20-33-8-16 or IC 35-47-9-2;
Now that this language was remove from the code concerning carry on school property (IC 35-47-9-2) as of 1 July 2013, will this also be removed, or did it slip through the cracks?

 

[churchmouse]

For those who think your possessions are safe from the authority's....think again. Not all LEO or military will do the door to door forced entry and steal your stuff but there are enough that will.

 

[rambone]

"Hell to pay": Residents angry as RCMP seize guns from High River homes (with video)

‘It’s just like Nazi Germany,’ says resident

 

[IndyDave1776]

That's why they should have bobby trap their house when they left

Is that where you hide bobbies behind trap doors or what?

I rather liked that pun!

 

[mrjarrell]

Prime Minister Harper would like the RCMP to give the people their guns back.

Give back flood victims' guns, Harper's office tells RCMP - Politics - CBC News

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

For those who think your possessions are safe from the authority's....think again. Not all LEO or military will do the door to door forced entry and steal your stuff but there are enough that will.

It's laughable to me that there are those that think it couldn't happen here .

Look at all the posts here about the cops that trample our "rights" already in "good" times .

Those are the kind of cops that will gladly follow any orders to break and enter and confiscate guns for whatever BS reason they come up with .

 

[netsecurity]

Is this what really happened?

1) Residents are required to register guns, so mounties new which houses to kick the door in on.
2) Mounties decided they should audit these gun safes to see if they had any illegal weapons
3) They needed to bring the guns back to the office to run all the serial numbers.
4) Timing was just to good for them to pass up, since they could do this in the name of safety.

 

[FAL]

But we're told that we're paranoid for thinking the government would ever take our guns, eh? We don't have to look very far to see this happening in some places already, in the name of "safety".

 

[Cole46845]

Absolutely insane. I can't believe they can steal you're guns then make you prove they are yours. I always had more respect for Canada but no thanks now

 

[searpinski]

If at all humanly possible, I would have taken the guns with me. Bad situation all around but they shouldn't be seizing weapons.