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G22
10-05-2005, 10:42 AM
FEMA Suspends Phoenix Rescuers Over Arms
Oct 04 11:20 PM US/Eastern
http://www.migunowners.org/images/ap.gif

PHOENIX

The Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team has been suspended by a federal agency because it brought armed police officers for protection on hurricane relief missions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's conduct code prohibits urban search-and-rescue teams from having guns.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon called the reaction from FEMA "stunning, unbelievable, bewildering and outrageous."

Phoenix's team included four police officers who were deputized as U.S. marshals when they participated in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

The team was credited with plucking more than 400 Katrina survivors from rooftops and freeway overpasses in flooded sections of New Orleans.

Phoenix officials are threatening to refuse deployments in the future or possibly pull out of the federal agency altogether unless the rules are changed to allow teams to bring their own security, even if that means police with guns.

Phoenix police were added to the team about a year ago, and officials say they are essential to protecting firefighters and FEMA's $1.4 million worth of equipment.

Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan said his department also is questioning the federal agency's ability to manage working conditions, security and communications.

"We have an obligation to provide the safest environment as we can," Khan said.

U.S. Marshal David Gonzales said he was dismayed by the suspension because the setup with the police officers seemed ideal.

"We think this was a model," he said. "We think all rescue teams should have armed escorts wherever they go, and we think this is something they should adopt nationwide."

FEMA relies on 28 elite teams like the Phoenix group to perform specialized rescue operations immediately after terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

According to the mayor, FEMA officials advised the team to bring U.S. marshals along on the initial trip.

After Hurricane Katrina struck, firefighters faced deployment to areas plagued by looting and lawlessness. Twice, Phoenix's team was confronted by law enforcement officers who refused to let them pass through their communities and told them to "get out or get shot," Gordon said. Officials told the Phoenix team on Sept. 26 that their help was no longer needed after members of the group were seen embarking on a helicopter flight with a loaded shotgun while helping with the aftermath of Rita.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/04/D8D1KDB80.html

ZIPGRAVER
10-05-2005, 10:45 AM
Think it's time to disband FEMA and the stinking bureaucrats that run it. :cuss:

goldwing2000
10-05-2005, 12:26 PM
No good deed goes unpunished...

Sounds like they already have the right idea, though:

Phoenix officials are threatening to refuse deployments in the future or possibly pull out of the federal agency altogether unless the rules are changed to allow teams to bring their own security, even if that means police with guns.

AimHigh
10-05-2005, 02:15 PM
when I 1st heard about it, I thought it may have been armed citizens. But, when I heard it was deputies, I could not believe it. Pretty amazing. No wonder the local government, aka racist mayor, were taking guns from citizens. They hate guns and anything associated with guns. These people are totally nuts. These people are the mentality we are fighting daily via the NRA, etc.

G22
10-05-2005, 04:15 PM
Sorry, I didn't realise I posted in Front Page News.:oops:

But its still here too?

Knimrod
10-05-2005, 04:47 PM
Sorry, I didn't realise I posted in Front Page News.:oops:

But its still here too?

It was promoted there because it was worthy of front page coverage. A link to this article remains in the latest news forum. Thanks!

garyjt
10-05-2005, 04:57 PM
when I 1st heard about it, I thought it may have been armed citizens. But, when I heard it was deputies, I could not believe it. Pretty amazing. No wonder the local government, aka racist mayor, were taking guns from citizens. They hate guns and anything associated with guns. These people are totally nuts. These people are the mentality we are fighting daily via the NRA, etc.

If the citizens dont need guns for self defense (as per NO mayor), then neither do the police. At least be consistent. Prohibiting police from carrying guns is consistent if you wont let the citizens from carrying them - but then there is no reason why unarmed police should not go in.

Roger Roney
10-05-2005, 05:37 PM
Where in the article did either of you read that the action by FEMA was racist, or that Nagin, or other local governments had anything to do with this? Also, nowhere in the article does it say what city the Phoenix responders were in when suspended.

Quote Aimhigh; "<snip>No wonder the local government, aka racist mayor, were taking guns from citizens.<snip>"

Quote Garyjt; "If the citizens dont need guns for self defense (as per NO mayor), then neither do the police.<snip>"

Roger