Disarmed Rescuers in LA

-Notes From the Front Lines-

FEMA's suspension of the Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team because they deployed to New Orleans with armed police guards is rightly causing outrage. The following was sent to me by a member of a similar team deployed to LA, a man I have been corresponding with for some months.

He has allowed me to post his account here on the condition that he must remain anonymous--if his identity became known, his career would be destroyed.

I was in the New Orleans area as a member of a Fire Department contingent that responded to Louisiana last month. A member of our fire department who responded a few days prior to the main contingent being deployed told us over the phone, "If you can find a way to bring a handgun, do so."

Everyone who knows me at work knows that I am staunchly and unabashedly pro-rights. I am what they would proverbially call a "gun-nut." Throughout the ride to LA, my co-workers would occasionally ask me if I had packed any "heat." It was always in jest. My answer was always a consistent, "No, it would be illegal for me to transport a loaded firearm throughout the states we will be traveling through (even though I have a CCW from my state of residence)." Regardless, my employer forbids the possession of any weapon, at any time, while on duty and we were considered to be on duty throughout the entire deployment.

When we arrived in LA and the devastation (along with the accompanying uncertainty and lawlessness) became apparent, the inquiries into my armed status were now serious inquiries. The most popular guys in our convoy were now the Public Safety guys. In case you didn't know, some municipalities go with the public safety concept where trained personnel fulfill all the duties of police, firefighting and EMS. These public safety guys were with us as firefighters but did not disarm prior to departing. It was nice to see my anti-rights friends (who constantly mock me while in the relative safety of our station) all of a sudden warm up to the idea of a gun in their midst.

Our deployment took us near the New Orleans area but not in the actual city, where the problems being experienced in New Orleans were almost non-existent. It became apparent pretty quickly why the problems were non-existent. Almost everyone we met owned AND carried a firearm. I could bore you with endless stories about the different ways we saw firearms in their "natural setting" ... the way they were meant to be used ... especially in a disaster zone. It was a thing of beauty. Free men and women, armed and openly carrying those arms while going about the business of putting their lives back together.

I will share these two stories:

--A lady approached us in a parking lot of a fire station and asked us for some help. We said, "Sure, how can we help you?" She proceeded to tell us that she had just returned after evacuating to Mississippi and that her husband could not return with her because of work. She said she was alone and had just discovered her house was devastated with no utilities except for phone. She told us that she was concerned about looters and being alone. She said her husband had bought a shotgun years ago but that she had never learned how to use it. Her question was, "If I dial 911, will you come?" The Lieutenant I was with answered without hesitation, "Yes ma'am, just dial 911 and someone will be right there." We started to walk away and I watched her start to amble away with her shoulders down. I could not in good conscience keep walking so I called out after her and told her to hold up. I told her the truth. I said, "Ma'am, if you dial 911 the police might or might not come." I then told her how 911 was still unreliable. I told her how in the previous week, two homes burned to the ground in affected areas because no one could get through on the phone to report the fires. I know this would be the last thing that "Officials" would want to be known. However, I felt the truth might serve her better than a half-baked lie and misplaced trust in 911. I then told her to try and get as much stuff taken care of at her property and to return to her husband until things were better resolved. I told her if she had to stay, to seek out some of her armed neighbors and establish some sort of system to call for help or even to stay with them. Finally, I told her that as soon as she could, she should learn to operate that firearm her husband left for her or find one more suited to her needs. The last thing I said to her was, "Do what I told you, prepare to handle everything yourself. Call 911 but don't plan on help coming. I know it's not what you want to hear but it's reality." Her shoulders were still down but now she seemed to have purpose in her step. It's amazing what the truth can do.

--Immunizations were being given out at a local hospital for tetanus, diphtheria, Hepatitis A, etc. The lines were long and residents were standing in the heat to get in. The sign at the entrance caught my eye and surprised me (being in the South), it said "No Firearms" with the typical black firearm silhouette and red, slashed circle. The lettering underneath said, "Weapons free zone." It was quite amusing to see the sign there with the unarmed private security guard sitting at his desk as numerous National Guardsmen whisked back and forth with their M-16s and M9 pistols. A private citizen who had been standing in line was about to enter when he saw the sign, he let out a slight groan and with a roll of his head started to step out of the line. He looked at me and asked if he could have his place in line when he returned. That’s when I noticed he was carrying a sidearm. I asked him if that's why he was leaving the line. He said yes, he was going to walk back to his car and put it in the trunk. I told him to wait right there. I went inside and retrieved some paperwork and the shots. I came back out and had him complete the shot record while I administered the shots (I'm a paramedic btw) on the spot. The rest of the people in line seemed slightly indignant. I was only assisting there briefly so I went ahead and told them, "Armed citizens get priority." No one said anything and I did my good deed.

Even though, I repeated the party line when asked, I was adequately prepared to protect myself if the need had presented itself. My fire chief, personnel director, fire & police commissioners and city council members who made the rule about no weapons were residing comfortably back home, not in the immediate area of a disaster zone. My officer who was present with us, had his suspicions but never asked and at times made insinuations that seemed favorable. When it comes to firearms though, I trust no one who does not openly support an unfettered right to possess and carry.