Gurdur

I have no idea whether gun-dealers are extremist or moderate, but now they're probably alienated as well.
That is, if they're not dead, of course.
I would like to see if they implemented the same market control mechanisms at USA gun-shows.
Damn right. The bastards might have actually surrendered !

And everyone knows that one of those evil defence lawyers might even have gotten them off !
Hats off for good police work !
:banghead:
OOoooooooooo, that makes it all perfectly alright then.
Yes, especially when they are your British allies, who will get blown to pieces inside their APC's by American fighter/bombers.
Yes, indeedy.
Let those Brits know we mean business ! Yes !
Those Brits are only Europeans, anyway.
um, yes.
Yes indeedy. Better to kill them than alienate them.

Tum tum tiddley om tum tum, can someone --- anyone --- please tell me WHY IS THE USA SUDDENLY ACTING AS THOUGH ALL IT WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE ONE OF JONATHON SWIFT'S MORE SAVAGE PARODIES INTO REALITY ?

Failing that, I recommend you stay away from all gun markets.
Especially if you're British.

Arken

While I think it is unfortunate that anyone is being killed in Iraq, you do need to remember that there were multiple fair warnings for several weeks that anyone posessing a gun without authority would be considered an enemy combatant and there was the very well-publicized day when all Iraqis were supposed to give up their guns, so most likely these men were knowingly risking their lives.

Gurdur

Not even in the USA do they apply the automatic death penalty yet.

Oh, and BTW, gun-ownership and usage is very common in Iraq, especially now because there's not enough civil or even military policing, with consequent widespread looting, theft, rape and violence.
And guess just why there's not enough policing ?
Because Rumsfeld wanted to do everything on the cheap, with sexily few troops with max sexy weapons and min foot-beat control, is why.
_______

Oh and for all you Libertarians who claim owning guns is necessary to stop those evil dictatorial Guvments you so love to loathe, gun ownership was very common in Iraq before Saddam's fall.
_______

Hey, hey, hey ----- where's that apologist who whined because I used the common definition of "extrajudicial", rather than the definition from Black's Law Dictionary ?
And objected merely because I pointed out that the USA is making up its own rules as it goes along, in contempt of international law or fair judicial process ?
Yoooohhooooooo, apologist, step right forward and center.

Arken

Generally, in a combat situation, 'the automatic death penalty' is exactly what either side applies. Again, it was made perfectly clear that anyone found in posession of a gun would be treated as an enemy combatant. I think the issue here is not that people were shot, but the reason they are being declared so. I think you really need to attack the whole gun ownership ban rather than people getting shot for owning them. That's the real problem.

Gurdur

Merely defining something as a "combat situation" does not necessarily reasonably make it one.

Otherwise I could simply define it as a "kangeroo", and it would hop.

See above: I define them as kangeroos. Just as valid.

Uh, no.
The real problem is the neocons' wild ideas on sexy new warfare on the cheap, and complete refusal to satistafactorily provide for infrastructure rebuilding and adequate policing.

Kat_Somm_Faen

Come on - not like there is an economy so these people can do much more!

Yeah there are hungry people that need to be fed. What are we supposing these guys do? Pretend they are all legal and die? US went in there, they are yet to offer these people a freaking option yet somehow it is always someone elses fault. I sometimes wish there is something like a Judgement Day just so we all get to know just how does it feel. Once you are cornered what are they supposed to do?

Consider this - someone is willing to destroy your country, occupy it, plunder the resources and not even giving a damn about anything resembling option let alone restitution.

Why, oh why do the hate us, I wonder? All we do is help them!

Blixy Sticks

For once in my life, I agree with Gurdur, except for his use of the adjective "sexy". It is not strong enough language. I prefer erotic versus "sexy".

Nothingseen

Ok, so two gun dealers were shot, without a chance to surrender, in public.

The validity of going after gun dealers may be an important issue, but the question in my mind is this: What was it like before the 'softer' approach?

hinduwoman

Are not supporters of gun-rights in USA going to protest?

ex-idaho

I understand why the US military wants to disarm the Iraqis but is it the responsible thing to do? Seriously, Iraq is overflowing with highway robbers, looters and murderers. Shouldn't the people some way of defending themselves? Especially when you consider that there is no police force to speak of.