I can actually comprehend the mob mentality that leads to people taking things, but I don’t see why someone would just want to shoot at people randomly in this sort of situation.
Would someone be that upset or angry or ill that would force them to start shooting at sick people? I know events like this do bring out the worst in people, but I’m just trying to figure out this particular type of behavior.
It would seem that if you were staying behind while people were being evacuated so you could loot, that it would be in your interest to see more people leave.
I’m actually hoping for a GQ type of answer and not Pit type material.
Earlier today, there were reports that doctors at Charity Hospital were forced to give up drugs at gunpoint. Not antibiotics or insulin or anything, of course-- narcotics.
The only scenario that makes any kind of horrible sense to me is that it’s some messed-up person who is also after drugs, and figures they’re preventing them from leaving with the goods.
That makes some sense. I doubt that the hospital is taking any of that with them though. Presumably the new hospital would have some. The guy doesn’t realize that he would pretty much just have access to a free pharmacy if the hospital staff left.
I think part of the violence is generated by fear. They don’t think anyone is going to rescue them so, they have the mentality of, "If I’m not getting out, no one’s getting out.
Unfortunately, they may be right about not being rescued. With 50-60,000 people waiting for the busses at the Superdome, and another 20,000 15 blocks away at the convention center, the logistics of getting them all out are unimaginable.
I doubt anyone in their right mind is going to go out and invited the people with the guns to come get on the bus.
Hmmm. You could also be using it as a diversionary tactic to facilitate a narcotics raid, but I doubt any of the crooks in question would be that organized. Plus it’s not a really great idea, even as crimes go.
It’s also a good opportunity for anyone from the gangbanging set to show what tough thugs they are. There’s little to no constituted order in New Orleans right now, so anyone that has a gun and enjoys intimidating others and pushing them around will jump at the chance to do so.
Actually, if you consider that the drug dealers are probably well-off enough to have cars, then they’ve all left town… the addicts, however, are left with a town full of pharmacies which are (a) filled with water and (b) not conveniently labelled for addict useage (“where’s the crack aisle?”). All the hospitals, however, are just chock full of people who know exactly what the addicts want… supply and demand…
There’s also a rather large group of people who just hate you all others secretely with a passion. If an opportunity like this arises, they might take it to vent a little and try to get away with it.
i’m sure some of the shots are being fired for all the reasons mentioned above, but i would think that the overwhelming stress of recent events would have pushed some people who had existing mental health issues over the edge, so to speak.
A sniper is a more specific class of gunman: someone who’s had military training, who will hide in a remote location waiting for his victim to appear, and who then uses a sniper rifle to attack. For example, recall the sniper in The Jerk who hated those oil cans Steve Martin’s character was standing next to.
On the other hand, the outlaws in New Orleans shooting at rescue helicopters are more appropriately called “complete bastards”.
And unfortunately, people who were on medication for mental illness may not have their medication available.
Not trying to justify this behavior. There is no justification for this. I can understand taking food and water when you have none, especially if you have children. I can’t understand taking a DVD player when you have no electricity - and who can you sell it to?
Since this thread is essentially an IMHO type thread, I’d like to point out that in addition to this assertion:
events like this also bring out the best in people. The altruistic acts, I’m sure, outnumber the antisocial ones by large multiples. Of course people are stressed and freaked out. Remember, also, that most of them know virtually nothing of what’s going on, compared to all of us who see it on tv, read it in papers and on the internet. Lost, confused, homeless, without food, water, medicine, or direction, having no knowledge, perhaps, of the whereabouts of friends and family, etc., it’s not hard to see how someone just loses it. Keep in mind all the heartfelt acts of kindness, help and support are also being effected every moment.
I don’t think we can fathom why someone would do such a thing. This tragedy has affected me more than 9/11. The cops or National Guard troops need to shoot dead anyone who would do such a thing at a time like this. People who do that kind of shit – endanger/kill other people – need to die. No jail, no trial, just dead.
Sorry – I just go ballilstic when some people take advantage of tragedies for their own purposes. I agree that there are more people who are altruistic; I saw in the newspaper the citizen volunteers who were using their boats to rescue people and I was heartened. I’m not saying that the “snipers” are sane – I’m sure that some of them believe they have perfectly good reasons to do what they’re doing. All I’m saying is, if they go postal (for whatever reason) and are preventing lifesaving efforts, they need to be taken out. I may be mistaken, but those areas are now under martial law, yes? Therefore, whatever it takes to get things under control and save people, then that’s fine with me, including law enforcement snipers shooting the bastards. Christ, what’s taking so long to get water and food to the people who are still out there, languishing in the heat? I know I can’t imagine the complexities involved in such efforts, but we’ve got National Guard as well as naval units responding. People are dying as they wait for water. I only wish I could do something besides give $. I can include them, and everyone, in my prayers today, and ask God to show mercy and help those people through this.
For what it’s worth, the major narcotics (schedule II–morphine, Oxycontin, Percocet, etc.) in a pharmacy are usually kept in a hell of a safe. On hospital floors, simple metal lockboxes are frequently used, but quantities are limited there. The big stash may be difficult to access.
Louisiana is not under martial law and a different thread explains that under Lousiana state law, there is no provision for resorting to such measures.
There are states of emergency declared, but not martial law. Anyone arrested will be tried in Louisiana courts.