Advertisement Armed citizens form group to keep eye on French Quarter Founder: We are not vigilantes Share Shares Copy Link Copy

In the French Quarter a new group is forming and ready to hit the streets.Watch reportThey call themselves the French Quarter Minutemen and are made up of all volunteers who possess concealed handgun permits.The founder told WDSU they are not vigilantes, but additional eyes and ears in an area of the city very sacred to them."We all share a common love for the French Quarter and we want its beautiful history to be preserved," said Aaron Jordan.Jordan said what inspired him to form the group was the severe beating of jazz musician Doug Potter, who was attacked after a gig in the Quarter right outside the 8th District Police Station."That would lead me to believe more citizen involvement can only help," Jordan said.He said they would obviously follow the law and not use force unless forced to.Louisiana is an open-carry state, which means someone can openly carry a firearm in public.Jordan said they wouldn't openly carry their weapons. As concealed carriers, their firearms would be hidden by clothing."We wouldn't want to cause unnecessary concern," said Jordan.Opponents of the concept worry it could backfire and someone could get hurt if additional private citizens are carrying firearms in the Quarter."I'm not advocating that citizens carry weapons, I don't support that," said Attorney David Oestreicher.Oestreicher, formerly part of the Civil Patrol said what he does support is a common interest in making the Quarter and New Orleans a safer place."If the volunteers could certainly have access to letting the regulars (police) know that something needs attention, I think it would make a huge difference. Too many people put their head in the sand," said Oestreicher.Jordan said they would dress in plain clothes and likely walk in pairs looking for suspicious people and activity, then report it to police."With the way things are now, I don't understand how this could be a bad thing," said Jordan.The New Orleans Police Department didn't have a comment about the group's formation.In 2007, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, a similar group, the Guardian Angels, patrolled the streets of New Orleans. French Quarter Minutemen will hold its first informational meeting soon. Anyone interested in learning more about the group and its intentions can visit their Facebook page, French Quarter Minutemen.