Comments on: Katrina: Governor Orders Troops to Shoot and Kill Looters

By: jackie

jackie — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 13:18:38 +0000

I don't believe you should be shooting people who are looting items that are likely of no use anyway, with the exception of certain nonperishable food items. I saw one black guy carrying a tv that looked about 27 in. and I was like, what good is a tv when you're surrounded by water and have no electricity? On the other hand, I discussed with my 12 and 9 yrs old children, that if we were in the same situation, I would "find food" for survival purposes and whatever else we needed to survive. You don't need a tv to survive in a city surrounded by flood waters and no electricity. I am a black woman and have a certain opinion as such, however, I don't believe in condoning certain actions just because the person committing them is black. One last point, isn't rescuing people more important than shooting so-called looters? The government must get their priorities together. Oh, I'm sorry, money and material items is far more important than a group of blacks that can no longer be used as slaves!!! God Bless Everyone, One Day We Will Be Enlightened!

By: Dereca Blackmon

Dereca Blackmon — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 12:38:37 +0000

10,000 people have likely died in New Orleans and you all are in a frenzy over property??? So they stole some TV's and jewelry, so what?? Who the hell has time to be shooting people when seniors are trapped in nursing homes drowning?? You are missing the point. In addition to all the other points made about the order of law in a DEMOCRACY (remember that term?), sending the National Guard to shoot looters instead of save lives is a gross misapplication of resources. And by the way, you idiots can take personal responsibility for the shootings. Initially Blanco said she wanted to focus on saving lives instead of punishing looters (that's a novel idea). But political pressure from dunderheads like you, urged her to be "tougher" like her counterpart in Mississippi. I hope some of you get the chance to be left behind in a natural disaster, wade through dead bodies and alligators and then get shot at by your own government. You all should be ashamed. And by the way, Kanye West was wrong, George Bush doesn't care about POOR people. And before you even attempt to reply, try to drum up some facts to the contrary.

By: Ben House

Ben House — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 02:49:44 +0000

I know I will receive some flak for this, I think...

In response to several comments I have read here,

The reason you see hundreds or thousands of black people looting on TV is not because the reporters are racist, it is simply because the city is populated mainly by black folks. Don't jump to the conclusion that everyone "looting" is bad, wrong, or otherwise evil.

Taking food and water is one thing, but how much food do you think is inside a TV or even a VCR? How about that new car? Its not the color of the people, its the attitude. I am positive that if you looked around you could find some stupid white guy stealing NON EDIBLE merchandise.

Just my thoughts.

Oh yeah in a side note, I am of an off white kinda tan-ish brown fading into white on my legs.. :) If someone wants to be racist get specific!

By: lisa

lisa — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 19:10:40 +0000

I think it's medically possible that dehydration could contribute to some of this hostile behavior. Severe dehydration can cause extreme irritability, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations and delusions.

Maybe this doesn't apply to the violent people in NO but it is certainly medically possible. They could be evil, heartless people who prey on the weakness of others; we know humans are capable of that. But depriving humans of water can also cause that too. Just something to keep in mind.

By: I-RIGHT-I

I-RIGHT-I — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 12:40:55 +0000

Tito,
I can't wait for the films of the poor white men and women stealing TVs and guns, raping, murdering and shooting at emergency workers...I just can't wait. By the way, Snopes has the scoop from the photographer that took that picture you Lefties love so much. Don't bother reading it, it will just ruin that self righteous buzz you have going.

One more thing my Liberal friends; how does this shoot to kill order from a female democrat square with that idiot rapper who said Bush doesn't care about Black people?

By: tito nunez

tito nunez — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 07:01:48 +0000

I would like to know if the shoot to kill order applies simply to the barbaric black men and women who have the audacity to "loot" from a store after being left homeless, without food and without a government to come to their aid. Or does it also apply to the poor white man and woman who "took" food and water from stores because they were desperate, homeless and hungry. I hope the blacks in New Orleans remember the woman that ordered they be "shot" in their hour of need for "stealing" "looting" "taking" (semantics) during the next election

By: TJ Jackson

TJ Jackson — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 06:08:22 +0000

Would you hesitate to shoot an unarmed man about to destroy an electric grid system; destroy a bridge or open the locks on a damn? Would you hesitate to fire on an unarmed mob that had looted a hospital and therefor condemned hundreds possibly thousands to death?

Exactly how does a soldier stand down a mob that outnumbers him perhaps a hundred to one if he feels he cannot use deadly force?

By: ME

ME — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 04:16:12 +0000

So it's a question of the value of goods over human life? And what's the answer?? Typical, for this government. These murder-worthy goods, may I add, due to the damage from the flooding, are rendered nonsaleable... so it matters not if the insurance claims are 'theft' or due to the natural disaster --which, as a possible 'act of God', may not be covered by some insurance companies anyhow -- the business owners may well come off better if their inventory WAS stolen! These people have lost everything. Not only their possessions, but for many their homes themselves are destroyed. I dare say the shots taken at the helicopter could be in direct response to the "Shoot to kill" orders -- it's only human nature, if someone is trying to kill you, you react, and usually in the same way. And no, neither is right. But what is the important thing here? Water-damaged goods 'disappearing' or the succor of our fellow citizens who are living the nightmare of one of the worst things that can possibly happen to a human being? Additionally, we don't execute people who are suspected of, arrested for, or even convicted of theft! Now, we, without any benefits and rights of judge, jury, and due process; can just execute 'alleged looters' on the spot?! I hate to state the obvious, but these are NOT violent crimes, but merely economic! We decry the 1800's era Britain tactics of hanging children for stealing a loaf of bread, and here we are in America, in the 3rd Millenia, doing the same thing and it's all hunky-dory?! The way these priorities are being handled are in the Dick-Cheney-priority-meme... aka ridiculous! We are wasting our precious and limited time and resources protecting JUNK at the expense of the LIVES of our fellow citizens! Just getting potable water, basic nutrition and medical help to those stranded should be the #1 and ONLY priority at this time, and just leave the looters alone for now!

By: anjin-san

anjin-san — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:29:36 +0000

Right Kit, race has nothing to do with this. That explains the thousands of white people I am looking at on TV right now who are stranded in New Orleans, desperate, miserable, or dying.

By: Cato

Cato — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:51:35 +0000

I think you truly miss the point of shooting looters. The fundamental responsiblity of government is to protect society -- a government that does not prevent looting is failing in its fundamental mission. Looting is insurrection, whether armed or not, and those who loot strike at those who are too weak to protect themselves -- either because they have had to flee or are unarmed or not strong enough. Looting represents the law of the jungle, or Hobbe's life of man solitary: poor, nasty, brutish and short. There is no time or sufficient manpower in these circumstances to arrest looters and take them away for trial in the ordinary course of business. So, yes, you shoot looters on sight. By doing so you are protecting all law abiding citizens. And the example for the encouragement of the others is clear.

By: Kit Jarrell

Kit Jarrell — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:42:33 +0000

Its not as if poor black folks are never shot in this country. Ask them, they are used to it. Posted by: anjin-san at September 2, 2005 13:28 Come ON. That's the only freaking thing you can bring to this discussion? it's pathetic that people can't stop whining about race and perceived inequality in the face of a national tragedy. We have better things to do. As for the shoot to kill order, I agree with it wholeheartedly. Control needs to be regained immediately in that city, and without an actual show of force (not just standing there holdng an M-16), those people won't be deterred a bit. If you're running by with a TV set and you see an armed National Guardsman, will you stop if you know he's not allowed to shoot you? How about if you know he's under orders to shoot you if you're caught looting? Deterrence is the name of the game - not necessarily punishment. Granted, a few people will get punished, but that's just by the nature of it. And honestly, are these lawless thugs the kind of people we want to transport to another city and help anyway?

By: Jack Ehrlich

Jack Ehrlich — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:12:51 +0000

My only question is where has this governor been this whole time. Seems as though Bush has been getting lots of flack from this from his opponents. But I hear little about what those who were much closer to this thing are doing.

By: Donald Sensing

Donald Sensing — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:28:55 +0000

Sorry, James, I think you missed the boat here. I responded on my blog with my reasons why.

By: anjin-san

anjin-san — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:28:42 +0000

Its not as if poor black folks are never shot in this country. Ask them, they are used to it.

By: One Hand Clapping » Blog Archive » Shoot to kill orders under fire

One Hand Clapping » Blog Archive » Shoot to kill orders under fire — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 17:25:37 +0000

[...] James Joyner says of La. Gov Kathleen Blanco’s shoot to kill orders to the National Guard,These are desperate times which, I’m told, call for desperate measures. Having the American military shooting suspected looters on sight, however, is an outrageous precedent from which we may not recover. [...]