Senate Supports 2nd Amendment Rights During Emergencies A vote of 84-16 showed bi-partisan support for an amendment to federal legislation that would prohibit the use of Homeland Security appropriations for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster. The issue came to the forefront when such confiscations did occur in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the U.S. Senate has addressed such future practices through an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill, sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). In an article in the Hawaii Reporter, Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA executive director, stresses the importance of this provision being included in the final version of HR 5441 that emerges from the House and Senate later this year.