The post-Katrina gun confiscations were met will no end of howling about the obvious violations of Louisianans’ constitutional rights. And given the much more orderly response in Houston (where no one’s guns were grabbed) we won’t be seeing any more door-to-door “emergency” firearms confiscations. Right? Guess again.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Governor has signed an order allowing the seizure of privately-held guns and ammunition. Not only that, the measure also allows the taking of other private property deemed “necessary to protect the islands.”

In other words, they’re not stopping at taking US citizens’ guns and ammo. They may also take your fuel, shelf-stable food, water and generators, too. Not to mention any other private property/survival supplies they deem critical. All to give to those who did not prepare for a storm that’s been approaching for almost a week

While this proclamation would likely never survive a court challenge, super-hurricane Irma will likely arrive before anyone could write, much less file a court challenge.

In the aftermath of Irma, islanders are going to need their firearms to protect against looters. St. Thomas isn’t all beaches and tourist hotels. Thirty years ago in my college days, my Spanish class teaching assistant, who came from St. Thomas, described the ghettos there as drug-riddled cesspools of violence.

This seizure order should serve as a cautionary tale for Virgin Islanders. Even worse, for those who have prepared for emergencies, this makes agents of the government almost as much a threat as looters.

The Daily Caller has the story.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp signed an emergency order allowing the seizure of private guns, ammunition, explosives and property the National Guard may need to respond to Hurricane Irma. Mapp signed the order Monday in preparation for Hurricane Irma. The order allows the Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands to seize private property they believe necessary to protect the islands, subject to approval by the territory’s Justice Department.

This unsettling news should provide yet another reason to keep your own emergency preparations fairly low-key.