U.S. forces trying to impose gun controls in Iraq

[Recon By Fire]

U.S. forces trying to impose gun controls in Iraq
Knight Ridder Newspapers
BAGHDAD, IRAQ--Faced with a heavily armed population and a severe crime wave, U.S. forces in Iraq on Friday outlined a new weapons policy that bans automatic and heavy weapons.

Iraqis will be able to register small-caliber arms to keep in their businesses or homes, but will not be able to carry them outside, said the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. David McKiernan.

The sudden collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime last month and the inability of the United States forces to quickly contain looting allowed thousands of Iraqis to raid military bases, weapons warehouses and ammunition dumps. Brazen armed gunmen became a common sight in Baghdad, and carjackings, once a rarity in Iraq, exploded. The crime wave has slowed in recent days.

The order will prevent most Iraqis from carrying concealed weapons, owning machine guns and other powerful weapons, and shooting into the air to celebrate, a common occurrence across Baghdad that keeps residents and soldiers on edge.

Commanders admit the problem of widespread weapons use is immense. In the last month, soldiers seized more than 17,000 guns, 30 million rounds of ammunition, more than 70,000 rocket-propelled grenades and almost as many hand grenades in Baghdad alone, according to Army documents.

Bremer and McKiernan have been working to bring the problem under control by placing more soldiers on the streets and putting criminals in detention centers for longer periods of time.

As a first step, Iraqis will be offered an amnesty period to turn in illegal weapons.

Another thorny issue is likely to be open-air arms bazaars. The Army has been trying to shut them down, but they continue to pop up around the nation.


http://www.charleston.net/stories/052403/ter_24guns.shtml

Those Crazy Iraqis, they don't seem to be able to handle their guns

 

[J Miller]

Soldiers are generally not good law enforcers. They were not really trained for it.
They are trying to restore order to a caotic country in the only way they have been trained. That is: Kill or disarm the enemy.

So, you actually expected the United States to allow Iraqis to have fully automatic weapons and rocket launchers?

We can't even have those. Geeze..............:banghead:

 

[Standing Wolf]

Iraq needs a constitution with a clearly defined personal right to keep and bear arms, as well as the death penalty for anyone convicted of using a firearm to commit murder.

 

[Pilgrim]

Iraq needs a constitution with a clearly defined personal right to keep and bear arms, as well as the death penalty for anyone convicted of using a firearm to commit murder.

Not likely to happen with our assistance.

 

[Minute_Of_Torso]

At least they're doing it in Iraq and not here . . . yet.

 

[WilderBill]

My first reaction to this story was that they have as much right to be armed as we do.
Then I noticed that they specified heavy weapons and automatic arms. That part makes them pretty much on a par with us.

The thing is that, while some of those folks that feel that they need an RPG for personal defense, are actually Iraqi solders that brought their work home with them when they deserted, others are people that found weapons dumped along the road and decided they needed them in case there is a need to oppose the next regime.

There is no easy answer.
I'm glad I'm not there.