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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Looting Erupts After 'Biblical Floods' Devastate Southeast US, Sheriff Urges Residents To 'Carry With Safety Off'
2024-10-03
[ZeroHedge] People in parts of the Carolinas, Tennessee, and other storm-stricken states are standing their ground as looting reports flood X. This dire situation highlights the harsh reality that when disaster strikes and the government is nowhere to be found, being prepared and armed will save your life.

Eight illegal aliens were arrested in the eastern part of Tennessee for looting following the tropical system that unleashed flash floods in Washington County. Maybe these migrants were searching 'for bread' to feed their families... We suspect not.

In Greenville County, South Carolina, just an hour south of storm-damaged Ashville, North Carolina, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis told looters his residents are "very well armed."

Just north of Greenville in western North Carolina, a video uploaded on TikTok, then X, of realtor Leigh Brown, who warned, "The looting has picked up major steam," adding, "I was advised by a county sheriff to make sure that anybody out and about is 'carrying' and in his words 'carrying with the safety off.'"

Brown said the people out in the storm-ravaged area might not be "awful people, they're desperate" as their homes and towns were wiped off the face of the map by 'biblical floods.'
Lots of tweets at the link.

Courtesy of Skidmark: Idiotic hurricane 'looters ransack Trump merch store' in Florida during height of Helene chaos
Seen in comments yesterday: Courtesy of NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Bypasses the Governor and Authorizes 24/7 Air Convoy for Helene Rescue Efforts
Helene death toll surpasses 160 as search for missing in North Carolina continues
For those who Facebook, here is a post from a lady witnessing the situation in Western North Carolina.
Posted by:NoMoreBS

#11  Interesting only one truck had all 18 tires punctured. I wonder what about that truck garnered the extra attention?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2024-10-03 14:24  

#10  Not just looting:

80 semi-trucks tires slashed at Tennessee truck stop, deputies say
Posted by: Skidmark   2024-10-03 11:34  

#9  Tennessee’s Legislature has tied the hands of victims by forcing them to stand by without the ability to protect their homes, lands, or the property from thieves, robbers, burglars and looters

When the government does that, it's no longer legitimate. A government unable or unwilling to provide security for your life, family and property is only operating by force and cohesion.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2024-10-03 10:23  

#8  Oh and talk about "coincidences"....

Thursday, September 26, 2024 | 09:32am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 700 Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment are departing Saturday, September 28, on the first leg of a year-long deployment to the Middle East.
Posted by: Mercutio   2024-10-03 10:02  

#7  A footnote to the article yesterday about FEMA confiscating supplies:

Tennessee Conservative News has an article today:

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said consumers affected by Hurricane Helene should be on the lookout for scams.

"Some scammers will pose as employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or charities, law enforcement officials said. One scam circulated through Washington and Cocke counties."

“If you are at a collection site or shelter and someone comes by stating they’re from FEMA and they need to pick up water or items, call us,” the sheriff’s offices said on their website. “This is a rumor that is false and nothing like that is going on.”

Skrmetti’s office has an online complaint form to report scams.
Posted by: Mercutio   2024-10-03 09:50  

#6  Very interesting. Thanks Merc.
Posted by: Besoeker   2024-10-03 09:41  

#5  WOuld the "Three S" rule not be used?
Posted by: Canuckistan sniper   2024-10-03 09:39  

#4  
Better to be judged by 8 than buried by 6.
Posted by: NN2N1   2024-10-03 09:19  

#3  As was pointed out here yesterday, TN has a real problem with you defending your property. From a Tennessee Firearms Association email yesterday:

Tennessee law prohibits property owners from protecting themselves against looters.

Hurricane Helene struck with devastation that is unprecedented in recent memory when it hit ground at the end of September 2024. It devastated substantial parts of East Tennessee and other states with flooding, death tolls are rising, roads and infrastructure are unusable perhaps for weeks or months. Now, there are news reports that the residents in those areas are also becoming the victims of looters . But, were you aware that the laws in Tennessee, laws which have been maintained and sustained by the Republican controlled legislature, make it a crime for the affected residents to defend their homes and property from looters?

Tennessee law prohibits the use of deadly force to protect real or personal property. Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 39-11-611; 39-11-614. That means, if someone has broken into your home, your barn, your garage, or is trespassing on your land, you cannot use “deadly force” to force them to stop or to get off of your property. If someone is stealing your car, your truck, your life’s savings, your food, your generator, your fuel, your livestock or any other property, you cannot use “deadly force” to stop them or to protect your stuff.

Tennessee law also prohibits the use of deadly force in making a citizen’s arrest. Tennessee Code Annotated §39-11-621. That means if someone becomes aware that another person (e.g., looters) are on their property, stealing their stuff or perhaps has even assaulted or killed one of their family members, that individual cannot use “deadly force” to make a citizen’s arrest.

It is no answer that “well I did not fire the gun” or “I did not shoot them” or “I only pointed the gun at them.” In Tennessee, deadly force is defined by the Legislature – not by common sense. The Legislature has created this definition – “ Deadly force means force that is intended or known by the defendant to cause or, in the manner of its use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. ” Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-11-602(2)(cleaned up). Thus, even the brandishment of a firearm, a knife, or anything else that is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury is the use of deadly force.

If a person, perhaps a storm victim who is being victimized by looters or trespassers, were to try to protect their property with a firearm, even if they did not fire it, by brandishing the firearm and/or perhaps yelling “stop right there or I will shoot”, that individual likely commits a felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. See, Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-102(a)(1)(A)(iii) (likely a Class C felony and a sentence range of 3-6 years).

Tennessee’s Legislature has tied the hands of victims by forcing them to stand by without the ability to protect their homes, lands, or the property from thieves, robbers, burglars and looters. To that extent, the Republican controlled General Assembly has victimized the innocent again. These laws should be changed so that citizens, even if not in a emergency, can effectively defend themselves, their lands, their homes and their properties from those who are willing to risk their lives to engage in criminal activity.
Posted by: Mercutio   2024-10-03 09:10  

#2  Looting any different than what's happening daily in CA with a wink and a nod of the Party?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2024-10-03 07:54  

#1  

Having seen videos of the others, our losses are minor compared to many immediately around us and next to nothing when looking at North GA, WNC and parts of TN.

Our neighbors called around 11pm, we now have power. But we still have a boil water order for a few days.

If the doc ok's it, we're headed back to eastern Middle Ga. this afternoon. Back roads and even some of I-20 have been mostly cleared. It seems Bubba's with their "I can do it quicker", mentality paid off.

Given local Super markets have been drained dry, we have loaded for 2 weeks and also are ready for looter issues.

The general opinion here is Trump & Musk stepped up and helped. Harris just ran her mouth.
Posted by: NN2N1   2024-10-03 06:16  

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