Over the weekend of May 1-2, torrential downpours in the southeast flooded the Tennessee capital of Nashville over the weekend, lifting the Cumberland River 13 feet above flood stage, causing an estimated $1 billion in damage, and killing more than 30 people. It could wind up being one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. It received little media attention, and there were practically no incidents of looting. Here’s why:

Unlike New Orleans and the aftermath of Katrina, where local police and national guard (under orders by Democrat mayor Ray Nagin and Democrat governor Kathleen Blanco, respectively) were ordered to confiscate legally-owned firearms owned by law-abiding private citizens (who needed them for protection), no one in Nashville was forced to give up their legally-owned firearms. These law-abiding citizens were then able to defend themselves, their property, and their communities from lawlessness. Amazing how that works.