The Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 was a

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introduced in the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

intended to prohibit the confiscation of legally possessed firearms during a disaster. Its provisions became law in the form of the Vitter Amendment to the

Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terr ...

Appropriations Act, 2007.

Background

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Chief of Police Eddie Compass ordered police and United States National Guard, National Guard units to confiscate firearms from civilians who remained in the area. The National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation filed a lawsuit against the city of New Orleans to place an emergency injunction forbidding such seizures from continuing. A temporary restraining order was granted September 23, 2005. The Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 (H.R.5013, S.2599) was a bill introduced March 28, 2006 by Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal in the United States House of Representatives, House and on April 7, 2006 by Republican Senator David Vitter in the United States Senate, Senate. On August 4, 2006, it was referred to United States congressional committee, committee. On July 12, 2006 Senator Vitter proposed Senate Amendment 4615 (the Vitter Amendment) to Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (H.R. 5441), to prohibit the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law. The proposed amendment was subsequently modified to contain the provisions of the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006. However, the temporary surrender of a firearm could be required "as a condition for entry into any mode of transportation used for rescue or evacuation".

Passage

On July 13, 2006, the Vitter Amendment passed the United States Senate 84 to 16. It was retained by the conference committee. President of the United States, President George W. Bush signed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act on September 30, 2006 and it became Public Law 109-295.

References

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External links

Text of the bill

S. 2599/H.R. 5013: Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006
United States federal firearms legislation Acts of the 109th United States Congress Effects of Hurricane Katrina Riders to United States federal appropriations legislation