Residents can now possess and store firearms in trailer parks or other temporary housing set up for hurricane victims by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under a new policy announced Monday.

Use of weapons is still prohibited in the parks, according to FEMA spokesman Butch Kinerny.

Gun rights groups had sought the change, saying the original policy violated Second Amendment protections for gun ownership. Kinerny said FEMA made the change after consulting with lawyers.

"The use of firearms, air rifles, archery sets or weapons of any kind are prohibited in the park," Kinerny said, reading from the new policy and adding, "Underline that word `use."'

The old policy banning possession or storage of firearms had been in place for years, according to FEMA spokesmen. But two gun rights groups -- the National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation -- said they only found out about it earlier this month as a FEMA trailer park was opening in Baker, north of Baton Rouge.

Coincidentally, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office had asked for enforcement of such a ban because the small, camper-style trailers are close together and have thin walls, according to spokesman Deputy Fred Raiford. The sheriff's office feared any gun going off accidentally would cause deaths or serious injuries.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)