I am glad to hear that Wal-Mart is not selling guns in their stores. I hope all corporate America will act responsibly with regard to their interests in the Gulf Coast area.

I have read many stories of companies and individuals who have tried to help the area with goods and services only to be turned away. I volunteered with the Red Cross last Thursday and have yet to receive a call or email to help. It is very frustrating to read about people and communities in need and not be able to help except by sending money. I have only sent goods down from the several donation staging areas where I live. The reason I have not sent money is because 1) I don't have a lot to spare. 2) I feel that this is a long term financial situation and I will be able to send money over the coming months and years for this recovery. It is too chaotic right now to determine that the money sent is being used properly. Just look at the debit card situation from FEMA. You have it one moment and don't the next. When I see a better accountability, I will send money.

Last, but not least, I aplaud the American people. We as a people, not a government, will help the people of the Gulf Coast.

I have a brother and sister-inlaw who evucated when they were told to. David and Seamond Roberts it seems that these people are being forgot about. Fema is not trying to help them. Only those in shelters. Is it because they are pore white people. I do not want to beleve that race has any place in this. Because there are just as many poore americans of every race. They are in a little town called New Ibera, Lausiana. one hundred twenty five miles west of New orleans. Why are you not shareing these stories with the world they are just as displaced. They have managed to rent a little trailer there. He works for the state of lousiana. They are giving him half pay for one month. Then what? Cell 504-236-1395 Thanks a careing sister Betty watson

I am more than willing to donate goods, and have already done so, but when your told to only donate new clothing in sizes extra large to five x's large, that's going too far. People are trying to help by giving what they can. Many people are able to donate gently worn items. Consignment stores are full of nice, previously worn clothing and shoes that people pay for. Being told to go out and buy new, huge clothes, which costs more, makes me not want to help at all. I would gladly wear someones used clothing if all I had was the shirt on my back. I wonder who the ungrateful party is that made such a request.
I believe Americans are being extremely generous despite the fact that the fuel prices are outrageous. Telling us to give higher quality merchandise is very ungrateful. I will gladly send more needed items, but not clothing.

I agree with P. Baldree. I do not trust organizations to distribute my money properly. Last week, my husband drove to a nearby motel that was housing some of Katrina's victims, and asked the manager to call someone down from the family he thought was the neediest. A woman came to the lobby, with her young son, and told my husband her story. He gave her a substantial amount of money and his phone number in case she needed something in the future. The American people want to help these families, but we don't want to contribute to the beaurocracy. Most of us are struggling to pay our own bills, dealing with current issues regarding retirement, healthcare, and now gasoline prices, that are plaguing our country. We must spend our money wisely and yet try to reach out to those in need. As our government lends increased support to big business and less to the people, this becomes more and more challenging.

I for one am not pleased with the stores not selling their guns to the local patrons. After all these people have a constitutional right "to bear arms" as the rest of us especially now to protect whatever little they have left. We all know that those looking for guns at this time and place have families and if they are lucky perhaps a little property left to protect. I don't think it fair to the common folk when the criminals in this country are treated better than those they prey upon. Taking or refusing to sell guns to property owners in this situation is denying them their rights given by our constitution and since when did the law grant the store owners the right to censor legal sales of any type?
I agree that it will be the people of this great country that will provide the help needed and not the government as has been demonstrated already.

I'm shocked that WalMart had enough sense to stop gun sales and it wasn't about the almighty dollar for once. Maybe they just couldn't get any more logistically and thought that this is their time to look like a responsible company. Or maybe they figure if small town America starts killing each other off with thier Walmart guns, then they would eventually be out of business. So I'm sure it was a business decision and not a human interest decision. As you can tell I am not a fan of Walmart.

I have several friends that were pre-Katrina residents of Hammond, who are suffering greatly due to the overcrowding there. We have offered our two extra bedrooms to evacuees, but due to our distance from the effected areas, have not had any response. I, too signed up with Red Cross to offer shelter and also have yet to be contacted. I have worked in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammonnd and Biloxi in the past. I feel a strong desire to help the people of the region. Howeever it seems that even in crisis there are strict Government guidelines to those who are and are not allowed to help. Please, I urge those Powers That Be, let this Nation help! Relax your guidelines and let ordinary people do their hearts desire to help those in need. Not everyone can send money, but we can give time, emotional support and shelter. Let us do our part.

WalMart has done the right thing by removing their guns from sales. I only hope that other businesses do the same, at least for the near future.

I am glad to see that there isn't a strong race card being played throughout this whole situation. I do beleive that a few people were less fortunate as far as their financial situation is concerned but for the most part, this tragedy affected everyone and your financial situation couldn't prevent the loss- rich or poor. The American people have reached out their arms to all of the victims of Katrina. This is our opportunity to show the world that love for humanity has no racial barriors and if we as a people stick by each others sides, we will gain light in this dark world. God Bless

While I can understand the logic and aims of Wal-Mart and other stores not selling guns, I question how completely this has been thought through. Many people who are moving back to the area are feeling vulnerable. The criminals who are firing at and attacking people may have stolen any guns returning residents had. Many of the criminals already have guns. How else could they be shooting at levee workers and helicopters?
If stores would allow guns to be sold and conduct thorough background checks, then the average person purchasing a weapon would be one using it for protection and a little peace of mind in stressful times. If someone tries to buy ten guns or boxes of bullets in the same week, then yes, common sense would tell you that person is probably up to no good and should be prevented. That is another reason to run background checks: preventing individuals from buying excessive weapons at a time.
While traveling in groups is a smart thing to do, it does not guarantee safety. One armed individual can overcome two unarmed people. Granted, guns do not guarantee safety either. However, the best way to ensure your safety is to make it harder for the criminals. If would-be victims start pulling hand guns on the people attacking them, the assailant has no way of knowing if the gun is loaded or even if the person holding it knows how to shoot it. What the assailant does know is that he or she is now in danger as well, a large deterrent for criminal actions. If enough people do this, fewer individuals will think it easy to take advantage of people in the current situation.
There are people who live alone or in areas where many of their usual neighbors have not yet returned. Any measures they can take to feel safer in these troubling times should be allowed them. There are enough other problems to be going on with without personal safety being the top one.

I know that good deeds done by the countless volunteers will never be reported because that does not sell papers or help ratings. The media only seems interested in the 2% of idiots out there instead of the good being done. I wish the media would show the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. But that would be considered a perfect world.

Well, the sad fact is New Orleans DID send their criminal elements to everywhere, along with the good and decent people. Here in Austin, the news media have carefully kept out of the news the fact that every day scores of addicts are bused to the methodone clinic and the local police have greatly stepped up their patrols in downtown (site of the convention center where the evacuees are held). One of our friends who was hosting a family was robbed by them, including cash and identify theft. New Orleans' worst neighbors such as the 9th Ward and Iberville projects, were the ones where 1000s of people have dispersed into other areas. Don't be fooled - there are a lot of bad guys among them. Given all we've seen, there is no way any local, state, or federabl govt will protect you from them. You'll have to protect yourself.

I to am happy to hear that our Corporate Citizens are acting responsibly by not selling guns and the like. I went through Andrew and guns, gas containers and liquor sales were all halted for a month in Dade County and we suffered very little of the crime spree that seems to be going on in NO. We also face a complete FEMA fiasco and an inept local response but got through without all this silliness.

Good for them for not selling guns. I respect that. I imagine that Katrina has affected so many things in that area that we don't think about up here in Seattle. This will be a far-reaching and long lasting disaster and recovery.

Now is the time to buy a gun. If you wait until disaster strikes and the looters are at the door, your local Walmart won't be selling any.

I can only imagin the turmoil these people and towns are experiencing. I live in a rural community, where there are no motels,we live along Andreas fault and all have been planning [our own family emergency plan.] One of the things I am teaching my four children and my cub scouts is S O S in morse code. In the case they would be trapped and not seen. The only place for Red Cross, Reporters, volunters would be in the street or citizens homes or our small civic center.Then to have the crime factor added in...This is all a little scary 100s of miles from the gulf coast.Hug Your Kids.Call Distant Realitives,AND PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! Tornado, Flood, Hurricane, Earth Quake, Car Crash.My heart goes to all enduring this...pain.MSNBC blogers- I will keep reading, these blogs are more info than what I hear on the Television. More emotion in these words Than you know.

I happened to be in my local WalMart just yesterday and saw a flyer stuck up by the front door. This huge organization has donated some $20 MILLION to the relief effort (in goods and cash) and is apparently not stopping. This in the face of several negative news stories about it recently. Corporate donors like WalMart can do so much; they have the money, the organization, the trucks and goods. It's heartening to see that many of them are doing their best.

A big YEA for walmart, at least the people that did get a debit card will now have something that is theirs and to bad for the people who did not get a card hopefully there is something good coming their way also. Just remember you are in all our thoughts and prayers

Good, no guns being sold. AWESOME choice. But, I think that if the criminals want them, they will get them (as many already have them anyway). Good for WalMart though in not selling them.

As to those that fear a larger criminal element in their neighborhood, well there are criminals of every variety in every neighborhood.

Oh heck, I grew up in a white, Christian family and neighborhood. Our long-time neighbor, a man who was married with three children, two boys and a girl...well everyone thought he the "Pillar of the Community" as he always had the children over to swim in his pool. Even his wife was always baking with girls. Turns out the man was a certifiable pedophile...dirty old man with serious criminal problems in the way he liked boys. A very Christian man who went to church every Sunday too, or so everyone thought until he got caught one day his wife came home early from a Friday ladies group at the church, found him in their room with a boy from the area. There are many types of criminals and every type of crime. I have lived in many different places, from very well-to-do communities to very poor neighborhoods, and the bottom line is, if you just keep to yourself, pretty much they will keep to themselves. I am speaking from personal experience again though, from the many places I have lived due, and again from well to do to very poor motel rooms that rented by the week many years ago when a business I ran, well it did not get advertising, and I just lost the business, my health began to suffer so poor and homeless basically, I lived in many places.
I hope that the crime does not increase.

I think the problem was/is is that the people during and ongoing through this tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, where people did not evacuate, could not evacuate, well where were they to go? No transportation, too sick, even on drugs unfortunately. When the high ran off, or the drunkeness turned into the hangover and reality began to set in that they had nowhere to go, no way to get out, desperation set in and they did what they thought they had to do to survive and to get to water and food, or even how to get a fix. I have worked with recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and the mentally ill, and for them, unless you or your family has endured the ill-effects of this delemna, then you cannot understand the thoughts that are going through these desperate peoples minds.

Hopefully now they will get the help they need, a new community to open their hearts to give them a fresh start on a new life.

God bless all volunteers for their continued efforts. My prayers are with those recovering, those still lost, and may God grant us the strength to begin, and/or to continue upon the straight path.

Assalamu Aleikum (Peace Be Upon You)
All of you my prayers continue

Valerie

I agree with P. Baldree. I live in Baton Rouge and there has been quite an insurgance of people. I understand why they are here and have helped out in many ways, but not financially. When I heard that the debt cards in Houston were used to buy $800.00 purses I was outraged! Why can't the government put some kind of restrictions on them just as they do with the WIC program?

While I can understand the logic and aims of Wal-Mart and other stores not selling guns, I question how completely this has been thought through. Many people who are moving back to the area are feeling vulnerable. The criminals who are firing at and attacking people may have stolen any guns returning residents had. Many of the criminals already have guns. How else could they be shooting at levee workers and helicopters?
If stores would allow guns to be sold and conduct thorough background checks, then the average person purchasing a weapon would be one using it for protection and a little peace of mind in stressful times. If someone tries to buy ten guns or boxes of bullets in the same week, then yes, common sense would tell you that person is probably up to no good and should be prevented. That is another reason to run background checks: preventing individuals from buying excessive weapons at a time.
While traveling in groups is a smart thing to do, it does not guarantee safety. One armed individual can overcome two unarmed people. Granted, guns do not guarantee safety either. However, the best way to ensure your safety is to make it harder for the criminals. If would-be victims start pulling hand guns on the people attacking them, the assailant has no way of knowing if the gun is loaded or even if the person holding it knows how to shoot it. What the assailant does know is that he or she is now in danger as well, a large deterrent for criminal actions. If enough people do this, fewer individuals will think it easy to take advantage of people in the current situation.
There are people who live alone or in areas where many of their usual neighbors have not yet returned. Any measures they can take to feel safer in these troubling times should be allowed them. There are enough other problems to be going on with without personal safety being the top one.

All we can do from the North, is donate whatever we can. Our cities have opened up shelters, just as Houston and San Antonio did. We have volunteered with Habitat to come down when they come in to structure homes for the unfortunate.
My heart and thanks go out to all the volunteers, the police departments, the churches, the animal rights people...and just each and everyone who has extended themselves to help.
It is so unfortunate that some have seen it fit to shoot at others, as everyone seems to be in the same boat now. Do they not stop to think that the person they might kill is someone's family member and that his/her family may be searching for them? It is sad that people have to be apprehended and face court during these times...BUT...if they break the law, they have to face the law.
Everyone should take heed from that 6yr old little boy who was carrying a baby, with 5 smaller children following him. He took care of them, he brought them to safety.
You are all, everyone of you, in our prayers.
God bless each and every one of you.
God please bless the United States of America.

I hope we learn something from this, destruction know's no color, race, age or sex. Our compassion should be the same. After 9/11 the families received much more money. We put a price on folks worth. It's shame we live in a world where there is still a price on a human being head.

In reference to "the criminal element" being pushed into the helping cities, is it true that authorities at the prisons and jails in the path of Katrina did not transfer their inmates to other facilities but released them to the streets? I have not heard any reporting of this on the ubiquitous broadcasts, but heard about it from a friend.

If it is true, why? And why was the public not told? It certainly would explain some of the violence and carnage that has been reported.

Not selling guns???
No police protection and these people want to protect their property. The criminals have guns or have you watched the news.
Tell me when you dial 911 who is going to get their first your gun, the looter, or the police?
I've waited for the police and believe me I felt better because I had three guns!!!
I'm sure you don't have the guts to post this.