House Passes NRA-Backed "Disaster Recovery
Personal Protection Act"

Fairfax, VA-The National Rifle Association (NRA) and law-abiding gun owners won another major victory today when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass HR 5013, the NRA-backed "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act". HR 5013 passed with a broad bi-partisan margin of 322-99.

"Law-abiding gun owners scored a significant victory in the House of Representatives today," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina confirmed a fear long-held by American gun owners: the day government bureaucrats declare our Second Amendment null and void, leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless in the midst of chaos and lawlessness."

This is the second NRA win on this issue in less than two weeks. On July 13, 2006, Senator David Vitter's (R-LA) amendment to prohibit the use of funds appropriated under the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441) for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster passed the United States Senate with a final vote margin of 84-16.

H.R. 5013 amends federal emergency statute laws to prohibit federal, state and local authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during times of national emergencies, as witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year when police and military confiscated firearms from law-abiding citizens. 

"No matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to possess their firearms in their homes," continued Cox. "And if forced to evacuate, they have the right to transport their firearms to a safe place. Nobody has the right to disarm them. That's what this legislation ensures."

After witnessing the draconian confiscation of firearms from law-abiding residents in New Orleans, Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana passed measures that echo the spirit of HR 5013 .

"On behalf of our four million NRA members nationwide, I want to thank Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) for introducing this legislation and the House Republican leadership for seeing that the 'Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act' got a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives," concluded Cox.