Sixty-four-year-old Vivian Westerman couldn’t seem more peaceful. She’s a New Orleans artist, sculptor and a vegetarian, but don’t cross her.

The former gun control advocate is now the proud owner of a 38-Smith and Wesson. She said she has changed her tune since Katrina, committing herself to be prepared to ward off future looters or criminals.

WWL-TV

A man shoots a gun at a Jefferson Parish range.

“Nobody’s going to walk over me,” she said. “You have to protect your property. Anybody comes into my property and they get shot! This is my new protect-yourself-from-hurricane-and-thug-life.”

Law enforcement officials and gun store owners say the fear of crime after the storm has led a huge number of locals to arm themselves. They say the number of concealed gun permits in the area has at least doubled.

And, they say typical customers at gun stores are no longer just hunters, but instead also housewives.

“They know the police can’t support them, can’t help them out, so they’re coming to arm themselves,” said Mike Roniger of Gretna Gun Works.

Roniger says among the most popular guns are small revolvers that are light and easy to carry, but that come with a laser to make aiming really easy.

Jefferson Parish Chief Deputy Newell Normand said that not only are law abiding citizens arming themselves, but criminals too. He said several deputies have left the force because of the extreme weapons and danger they are finding on the streets.

“We have a lot of folks that leave us because they were not comfortable with the situations they were coming across out on the streets,” he said.