Guns, Guns, Everywhere: The Aftermath of Katrina
Finally, the Globe and Mail and other papers have begun to discuss the unequal way in which racial and class groups have been affected by Katrina. I am sure you have noticed that the refugees at the Superdome and the Convention Center were largely black and clearly poor. The wealthy and middle class got into their cars and drove or flew out of town. Many of those left behind could not afford gas or bus tickets, and no one offered them a lift out of the danger zone. Instead, thousands of dollars was spent airlifting people from rooftops.
But, I am still waiting for a discussion about guns and this disaster. There are obviously way too many guns in American urban centres and this was clearly illustrated by the gangs of armed looters and thugs roaming the streets after the hurricane. Even New Orleans Firefighters carry guns. One of the major targets of the looters was gun shops, resulting in even more guns pouring into the streets. We had snipers taking shots at police, helicopters and hospitals trying to evacuate patients. I know, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." What a load of crap.
I would suggest that New Orleans might not have descended into such extreme anarchic depths had there been fewer guns around. The police were diverted from search and rescue operations to deal with general lawlessness and yahoos with guns. I really hope the chaos in New Orleans will make people realize that too many guns around isn't a good thing. It's stupid. The right to bear arms is senseless in 21st century America.
Technorati Tags: Hurricane katrina, New Orleans, poverty, race, guns
18 comments:
Agree with your point about the guns. There was a breakdown in civil order in a society that should have been civilized. However, N.O. was already a violent city. As for the racial thing, I'm not convinced. Some people had cars and others didn't. That's not a racial issue. That's a more complex one. America is not a racist society. It has racial problems (Canada's record is not all that impressive relative to how we view ourselves). Enjoyed your site.
I'm in agreement with you here. Guns and people have never been a good combination. Leave the guns for the police and the military.
I do think, though, that America is a racist society. My husband and I are a mixed couple, and we experience racism every day. No exaggeration.
New Orleans was approximately 70% black prior to Hurrican Katrina. Since the majority of the people in the city were black it would stand to reason that the majority of those left behind were black. I don't think that there was so much a racial issue as an economic one, but I believe that this could be the case in many cities around the country. The City of New Orleans and the State of Lousiana had no plan for evacuating the poor or sick, and that in my opinion was the major cause of this tragedy.
A recent article I read claims that New Orleans is 62% black. Just a few minutes ago, I read Christie Blatchford's Globe article. Reporting from New Orleans, she quotes one person at the convention centre:
Miss, with great respect for your race, I don't see no white people here. Where they at? I live here, I know there's plenty of white folk in New Orleans.
Blatchford also says:
The white folks in the main got out of town; the black ones didn't — not, as they are quick to tell you, because they didn't want to go, but because they couldn't.
Of course it was an econimic issue.
I am a gun control freak but I know that the argument on the other side is that if guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. The other thing is that many of the guns were stolen. Some people had guns who didn't own a gun. I know, I know and as I said, I am a gun control proponent, but I think that the gun issue has too many nuances to be a viable topic. I think the race issue is and was BLATANT especially when you see pictures where blacks were said to be "looting" while white were "finding" food (boy that's amazing!). I think the racism alone in those remarks is deeply disturbing. Having lived all over the United States I can say there are places that are non-racist and places that are racist. They exist and they are not small pockets. I think the race issue must be talked about, the poor issue must be talked about, the environmental and funding issues must be talked about. You can talk about guns but I don't see that as a simmering topic. I agree that the second amendment has no relevance in today's society but I don't think that conversation is going anywhere right now.
As an American, I want to believe that we're not an inherently racist country. As a person who is reasonably aware of her surroundings, I know that we ARE one, however much many of us deny it. There are still parts of this country where the war between the states is a hot topic, never mind the 140 years of history since then, for example.
While it's true that major cities are home to a greater percentage of people of all ethnicities who don't own cars, it's also true that New Orleans is a major port, and a tourist destination, with all of the types of dock workers, and tourist support workers that such cities everywhere tend to gather. Most of them are not making white-collar incomes.
It is an economic issue, but it's a race issue as well. And either way, it's sad, and horrifying that we live in a land where we're paying farmers to let field go fallow, but we can't help our own.
I would suggest that New Orleans might not have descended into such extreme anarchic depths had there been fewer guns around.
This is true. Just plain true.
New Orleans was approximately 70% black prior to Hurrican Katrina. Since the majority of the people in the city were black it would stand to reason that the majority of those left behind were black.
Art, you're not distinguishing between New Orleans proper - the inner city - and the outlying regions. As in many American cities, most people from the area don't technically live in the city. Eg, people say they're from Boston, but they live in one of the many surrounding suburbs.
New Orleans itself may be nearly 70% black, but the outlying areas are largely white. The city is highly segregated.
You're right that it is an economic issue, but it's inescapably a racial one, too.
As for the racial thing, I'm not convinced. Some people had cars and others didn't. That's not a racial issue. That's a more complex one.
Cars = middle class = white
No cars = poor = black
What's complex about that.
America is not a racist society.
What America are you living in??? When did the US stop being a racist society? It must have been last week, right after I left.
There are a number of levels to the tragedy in New Orleans. Poverty, racism, arrogance and a lack of preparedness for anything that wasn't related to an election issue played heavily into the tragedy. Guns. There is the famous saying by gun advocates that always has be shaking my head. "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." If only those had been Krispy Kreme donut shops instead of firearms stores, many would have fallen from the lethality of the glazed concoctions.
I still think that the USA should delete "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" amendment and replace it with "the right to smoke pot." :-)
From what I'm getting from my people on the ground, its much worse than its been depicted in NOLA. Given that two police officer just offed themselves because of the stress...this is Lord of the Flies level insanity.
Sorry the Zenfo Pro hasn't been updated in a while...trying to get folks supplies from Ohio isn't an easy task.
Much love,
Jason
ZF - I completely disagree. I've been around guns my whole life and own plenty. Been in two hurricanes. People I know have lost everything and didn't have insurance.
My wife was seconds (literally) from dying in a flood. I was seconds (literally) from having to abandon my car, but luckily for me, I knew a few driving tricks that most people don't. I was the only vehicle to get off that street onto the elevated freeway. And yes, there were trucks and SUVs that got stuck and had to be abandoned while I had a Ford Taurus at the time.
It did take us hours to get the water out of the car and luckily the water didn't get into the engine.
The difference between us and them is simply upbringing. Look at the people who were shooting at the rescue workers. They were mostly desperate people.
40k people die by cars, way more than guns. Is that proof cars should be banned? No, not at all.
If I had been there, I would have picked off the people shooting at the rescue workers. And yes, I would have hit, whereas most of them missed because they weren't brought up with guns.
If you think you can just pick up a gun and actually hit something with it, you've watched way too much tv. It took me years to be able to make clean shots at 200 meters without a scope every time.
The problem isn't guns, it's poverty. A lot of America is a Third World country and it pisses me off to no end that we sent so much of the manufacturing jobs overseas. Why can't we do that stuff in Lousiana or Mississippi? Give our own people jobs. You will see that people with jobs, with something to live for, don't do stuff like that.
Bang on my friend. I was thinking the same thing last week when I heard about them shooting at hospitals and rescue helicopters.
Zombieslayer writes "If I had been there, I would have picked off the people shooting at the rescue workers. And yes, I would have hit, whereas most of them missed because they weren't brought up with guns."
So explain to me how gun fights are going to help the situation? Less people to rescue? That is the problem with gun loving Americans. They think it's a western and they can just shot their problems.
At least you are half right in that poverty is a problem that has to be addressed.
I really get mad when the focus of this disaster is turned into a race thing. I don't think it has anything to do with the hurricane, I don’t think it has much to do with the botched rescue, and little to do with the looting. We are a less racially divided and prejudiced society than we are educationally and economically. To speak in general terms the educated and people of means took heed and took off. Those of meager means and education stayed.
Of course there are the exceptions to the rule. “Momma wouldn’t leave” “They wouldn’t let me take my dog” I’d be hard pressed to leave momma or dog if I thought there was anyway of making it through too.
As for the guns. If not guns then something else. New Orleans is one of the most crime laden areas in the U.S. and with mobs come mob mentality and mob behavior.
You want to blame? The Military personnel I have talked to blame their Commander in Chief for lack of mobilization. Even before the hurricane hit, Bush declared New Orleans and the Gulf Coast a federal disaster area, anticipating a catastrophe. They have to practice preparedness and they get paid anyway. Why not just do their weekend-warrior-ing that weekend? If they weren't needed than it is good practice to be put on alert. But they were, and could have been there, with supplies and aid, in less than 12 hours.
I realize that this is controversial. I don't own a gun and have never fired anything more powerful than a pellet gun. And, I wasn't there. It just seemed to me that guns were causing problems in this case. We'll have to wait for more details about what really happened.
I can see that the issues of poverty and racism need to be dealt with, but how can having guns make it better?
Zombie slayer said it was a question of upbringing - Does that mean that educated people know when its ok to shoot someone? - Sorry, that one doesnt wash with me.
How can civilians be permitted to have guns? They have no place in society.
I take the point about cars killing more people than guns, but that doesn't mean that something made to kill is a good product.
I can see that the issues of poverty and racism need to be dealt with, but how can having guns make it better?
Zombie slayer said it was a question of upbringing - Does that mean that educated people know when its ok to shoot someone? - Sorry, that one doesnt wash with me.
How can civilians be permitted to have guns? They have no place in society.
I take the point about cars killing more people than guns, but that doesn't mean that something made to kill is a good product.
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