Looting or Salvaging?

[Geoff_M]

Unless and until you know these people's motives there is no way any of us can explain the reason why any individual is involved in looting.

I think we got a pretty good glimpse into the average looter's mindset when WDSU TV in NO showed the footage of people starting to empty out the nearest Winn-Dixie... The top "survival" item on most people's list appeared to be beer and liquor.

Also, assuming that any of these poor souls were only trying to feed their families... anybody wanna take a guess as how many of these looters will anonomously drop a $20 bill in the mail to the Winn-Dixie when things dry out?

Poster here are giving these "survival shoppers" way too much benefit of doubt.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Poster here are giving these "survival shoppers" way too much benefit of doubt.

 

[MosMom]

Hmmm I'm fairly certain everyone who posted sympathy for those people also stated anyone taking anything that doesn't pertain to survival is wrong. Not everyone is doing that.

 

[va32h]

Well I admit I'm surprised at myself for feeling sorry for them. I am usually quite cynical and heartless.

Practically speaking - what's going to happen to them? If the jail is underwater, what are they going to do? Cordon off a section of the Super Dome for miscreants?

Last night one of the Fox commentators actually said "The police told me, confidentially, that they are really concerned because there are more refugess than there are policemen out here right now." Fortunately no one in the area has working electricity to hear those comments but geesh - how stupid!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Personally, I would do whatever I had to do to take care of my family. If I had to resort to taking necessities, I would. I would also find a way to repay the store.

 

[Geoff_M]

I think it's safe to say that there will be a swift development of the LA National Guard into the city to support the local men and women in blue.

If the looters had no family or friends to turn to, if they had failed to buy any food stocks before Katrina hit, if they had tried and failed to secure survival items from the relief agencies and shelters in the city, and if I thought there was a chance that they would make an effort to make some sort of reimbursement to the owners of the property they were taking... then I'd be able to understand it. And I don't think that makes me Inspector Javert. Likewise, I suspect there aren't many Jean Valjean's running around "The Big Easy".

 

[peachgirl]

Likewise, I suspect there aren't many Jean Valjean's running around "The Big Easy".

Not often we agree, but I'm pretty sure you're not too far off the mark.

Last time I checked, high dollar sneakers weren't on the official Red Cross emergency supply list.

I hope to heaven they get some military support in there as soon as possible.

 

[lulugirl]

Personally, I would do whatever I had to do to take care of my family. If I had to resort to taking necessities, I would. I would also find a way to repay the store.

I agree! I won't judge those who are taking necessities from local stores. Taking a big screen TV from the local electronics store is a different story IMO.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Not often we agree, but I'm pretty sure you're not too far off the mark.

Last time I checked, high dollar sneakers weren't on the official Red Cross emergency supply list.

I hope to heaven they get some military support in there as soon as possible.

Yep, Jeanne Meserve on CNN just reported that they walked past a young man carrying a plastic bin, they assumed he was heading towards the Superdome. But after they passed him they heard a crash, turned around and the guy had broken the window of a watch store and started looting it.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yep, Jeanne Meserve on CNN just reported that they walked past a young man carrying a plastic bin, they assumed he was heading towards the Superdome. But after they passed him they heard a crash, turned around and the guy had broken the window of a watch store and started looting it.

Well I think people doing things like that should be shot on the spot. That I do not condone.

 

[peachgirl]

I agree! I won't judge those who are taking necessities from local stores.

The problem is, this is an emergency situation and the police don't have time to determine if you were stealing because you were hungry or because you're just a thief who wants to take advantage of a horrible disaster while you can.

There has to be law and order and people just cannot be allowed to decide when the situation had become dire enough that it justifies stealing.

IMO, they catch them stealing, and I don't care if it's baby formula...they go to jail..period.

Especially in the area where they are looting, there are places for them to go for help. There's no excuse for what they're doing.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Someone asked where they would put them?....I guess on the first boat to dry land and a dry jail.

 

[peachgirl]

Someone asked where they would put them?....I guess on the first boat to dry land and a dry jail.

While it's a big problem, it isn't as though there are thousands of people looting. It's a very small number and I'm quite sure if they can get the manpower in there to police them, they'll find a spot to park them.

The real problem as I see it is that if they allow these few people to do this, then more will do it and it's going to get dangerous and quick.

Does anyone wonder why people are reluctant to evacuate????

 

[lulugirl]

The problem is, this is an emergency situation and the police don't have time to determine if you were stealing because you were hungry or because you're just a thief who wants to take advantage of a horrible disaster while you can.

There has to be law and order and people just cannot be allowed to decide when the situation had become dire enough that it justifies stealing.

IMO, they catch them stealing, and I don't care if it's baby formula...they go to jail..period.

Especially in the area where they are looting, there are places for them to go for help. There's no excuse for what they're doing.

Well you're right about the police not having time to make that determination.
From a moral standpoint I just can't put the guy who is taking the baby formula in the same category as the guy who is looting the jewlery store, although they are both commiting a crime. JMO.

 

[Geoff_M]

From a moral standpoint I just can't put the guy who is taking the baby formula in the same category as the guy who is looting the jewlery store, although they are both commiting a crime.

And from a legal standpoint, I think a DA, judge, and jury would likewise take it into account if the person could demonstrate a reasonable need... But at least then the person would be asked to make restitution.

 

[maleficent1959]

Yes, looting is stealing. We all know that. It seems like they fall into two groups A) taking food and supplies and B) taking TVs and jewelry and “nonessentials.”

I simply cannot condemn people for taking food, toilet paper, even beer after something so horrific. If I was looking out my window at what seems to be a hellscape for so many people, I’d probably need alcohol just to get through the day. Ivan was bad here. It looked like a war zone and you were just numb with shock and it isn’t even close to what these people are living in now.

Sure, you can say they were told to prepare. And maybe they did. But you are looking at people in the poorest parts of New Orleans. Do you really think they have supplies to last the four to six weeks it is estimated that they will be without power? And it is easy to sit in our comfy, air-conditioned homes and say “but help is coming” but they have no idea where help is or even when it is going to be there. People close to the Superdome are getting help there, but how do you propose the folks living on the other side of a flooded town get to the magical Oz that is the Superdome? Until relief gets in there, the shelters only offer a roof over your head.

Yes, they should have evacuated. We all saw the interviews with people who said they wouldn’t or couldn’t for whatever reasons they had. But I have a lot more sympathy with the poor family that said “we can’t get out” than the dumba$$ tourist on Bourbon with a beer saying “It’s gonna be a party man!”

I’ll tell you, until Ivan we usually kept enough supplies to last a week (now it’s two or more). And after it hit, if I had needed to loot to get diapers or food for my kids I would have done it in a heartbeat. We weren’t prepared for something that big, and I’m willing to bet that the folks in New Orleans, even those who were stocked and ready, weren’t prepared for something this huge.

I know it is hard for some people to feel sympathy here. Laws are black and white. You steal, you go to jail. I’m allowing a little grey here for folks that really need supplies. You cannot imagine the despair that has already fallen over the population. No electricity, no water, homes and loved ones lost, stinky filthy floodwater full of raw sewage with gas and oil floating on top, broken gas lines, no contact with the world, I could go on and on. The emotional toll is incomprehensible and it is only just beginning for these folks. It will take months, if not years, to recover from this.

 

[eeyore kelly]

If they need life sub-staining supplies (food, diapers), then I can excuse that. If it is an entire rolling rack of stuff, that is wrong. If it is guns or a T.V., that is wrong.

It is up to the retailers to decide what to salvage and what to discard, not those who did not evacuate.

 

[lyeag]

The looting is is a disgrace. The police and military shouldn' t have to waste a second of their time on these people. They should be shot. Others are waiting to be rescued and manpower should be wasted on these people? I think not. I can't wait to see how the National Guard will be told to deal with these people. I am very curious how they are supposed to deal with these people with all the chaos. There isn't anywhere to put people who might get arrested.



I thought I heard martial law had been declared in New Orleans. Did anyone else hear that?

 

[barbeml]

Yes, looting is stealing. We all know that. It seems like they fall into two groups A) taking food and supplies and B) taking TVs and jewelry and “nonessentials.”

I simply cannot condemn people for taking food, toilet paper, even beer after something so horrific. If I was looking out my window at what seems to be a hellscape for so many people, I’d probably need alcohol just to get through the day. Ivan was bad here. It looked like a war zone and you were just numb with shock and it isn’t even close to what these people are living in now.

Sure, you can say they were told to prepare. And maybe they did. But you are looking at people in the poorest parts of New Orleans. Do you really think they have supplies to last the four to six weeks it is estimated that they will be without power? And it is easy to sit in our comfy, air-conditioned homes and say “but help is coming” but they have no idea where help is or even when it is going to be there. People close to the Superdome are getting help there, but how do you propose the folks living on the other side of a flooded town get to the magical Oz that is the Superdome? Until relief gets in there, the shelters only offer a roof over your head.

Yes, they should have evacuated. We all saw the interviews with people who said they wouldn’t or couldn’t for whatever reasons they had. But I have a lot more sympathy with the poor family that said “we can’t get out” than the dumba$$ tourist on Bourbon with a beer saying “It’s gonna be a party man!”

I’ll tell you, until Ivan we usually kept enough supplies to last a week (now it’s two or more). And after it hit, if I had needed to loot to get diapers or food for my kids I would have done it in a heartbeat. We weren’t prepared for something that big, and I’m willing to bet that the folks in New Orleans, even those who were stocked and ready, weren’t prepared for something this huge.

I know it is hard for some people to feel sympathy here. Laws are black and white. You steal, you go to jail. I’m allowing a little grey here for folks that really need supplies. You cannot imagine the despair that has already fallen over the population. No electricity, no water, homes and loved ones lost, stinky filthy floodwater full of raw sewage with gas and oil floating on top, broken gas lines, no contact with the world, I could go on and on. The emotional toll is incomprehensible and it is only just beginning for these folks. It will take months, if not years, to recover from this.

Well said.

 

[HappyMommy2]

This article is disturbing to me on many levels. I just don't know what the answer is.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9131493/