Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are demanding that U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp explain his ammunition and gun seizure issued in 2017, before a hurricane hit, but still in effect today.
Mapp’s order that came as forecasters predicted that Hurricane Irma would make landfall in the islands authorized the National Guard “to seize lawfully owned firearms from citizens, in clear violation of their constitutional rights,” according to a letter sent by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.
One reason why Bishop and Goodlatte are demanding information is because the executive order is still in force today, having been renewed time and again since it was first issued, apparently laying the groundwork for gun confiscation at will.
The congressmen are seeking documents sufficient to identify any policies, procedures, memoranda, or guidance on how the executive order is to be implemented; documents sufficient to identify any policies procedures, memoranda, or guidance detailing circumstances that may warrant the seizure of arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material, or any other property required by the National Guard; and documents sufficient to identify any seizure or acquisition of arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material, or any other property by the National Guard of the Virgin Islands under th authority of the executive order.
Mapp has until Aug. 1 to comply with the request.
