The Iraqi Constitution - the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

[Futo Inu]

This seems like an incredibly important question, given the current debate over the RKBA here and elsewhere (not to mention the incredible importance of the right which we all know but the liberals and others who have forgotten history don't), the fact that it's one of very few new constitutions that have been or will be drawn up of a fairly populous country in the recent past or future, possibly for generations, and the fact the it is the USA who is more or less dictating what happens there, or at least who the "Constitutional Congress" members are, if you will, and we are the only nation on earth, to my knowledge, that offers an actual small modicum of respect for the right of the people to KBA. Seems to me that whether or not a RKBA emerges in the new Iraqi constitution is quite a bellweather for the future of the right worldwide. Since Shrub in in the white house, there is certainly no reason why we shouldn't push for this right, and why it shouldn't be included. And goodness knows the Iraqi people NEED the right, given their history. I sure we would be interested to know:
1. How the man on the street in Iraq feels about the RKBA
2. Who is influential, from the US, in doing the choosing of the Const. Congress members there.
3. What the current state of discussions on this right is, if any.

etc. Any thoughts?

 

[Iain]

Not too bad, except those guys who are shooting at our soldiers are carying out what they regard as ''militia actions'' in defense of their country.

Why would the US have the power to insert clauses in the Constitution of another country? They might want to go down the road of an unwritten Constitution, it really is up to the Iraqi's.

 

[MicroBalrog]

There actually was a YouGov poll in Iraq about the invasion. Turns out most IRAQIS support taking down Hussein. Go USMC!

 

[MicroBalrog]

I would also point out the fact that Iraq has had a "gun culture" for a while, which is one of the reasons Saddam never controlled all of Iraq.

 

[braindead0]

There actually was a YouGov poll in Iraq about the invasion

Of those who have Internet access, not really a valid polling technique.

 

[Standing Wolf]

There'd be one @#$%^&! of a lot fewer dictatorships if every country had a constitution with language guaranteeing the inherent human right to fight back against tyrants, criminals, and terrorists.

 

[moa]

Standing Wolf, technically the Constitution and the Bill of Rights do not "guarantee" or grant anything. They simply state our God given and nature rights. It is up to the people to guarantee those rights.

The big trick to stating those rights for the Framers was not being too narrowly exact and not being too vague at the same time.

 

[.45Ruger]

Macarther basically dictated the Japanese Constitution after WW2 and now I don't recall Japan having RKBA now. Idoubt that we will recognize this right for Iraqis now.

 

[Waitone]

I've heard reports of a fair amount study ongoing regarding the US constitution and BoR. It is not being sponsored by State or Defense but by NGO's from the US.

There ain't gonna be an Iraqi Thomas Jefferson. Best we can hope for is true free elections and a self sustaining legislature. I find it interesting the Mullahs who were making the most noise about installing a theocratic government (which just coincidently they would head) have just shut up.

 

[Parker Dean]

Originally posted by Waitone
There ain't gonna be an Iraqi Thomas Jefferson

My thoughts exactly. The founding of the US was extraordinary in many respects, not the least of which being that the primary framers did what was best for the country and not themselves. I just can't see any modern political type hamstringing his power by agreeing to any sort of counter-balance.