Man Kills Another in Dispute Over War -- Press Calls It a First

[s0nny80y]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001010741

Man Kills Another in Dispute Over War -- Press Calls It a First

By E&P Staff

Published: August 06, 2005 6:30 PM ET

NEW YORK It was bound to happen sooner or later, and in what newspapers in Kentucky are calling a first, one American has killed another in a dispute over the Iraq war.

It happened at Floyd County flea market on Thursday, when two friends, who were firearms vendors there, drew guns after quarreling about the war. Douglas Moore, 65, of Martin, who backs the war, shot and killed Harold Wayne Smith, 56, of Manchester, who opposed it, according to investigators.

Moore was released without being charged after he convinced police he had acted in self-defense. A grand jury may yet hear evidence in the case.

Commonwealth's Attorney Brent Turner said the episode might mark the first death in the U.S. due to a dispute over the war.

One witness, Sam Hamman of Prestonsburg, told the Lexington Herald-Leader, "Harold was talking about the 14 people that were killed in Iraq the other day and Doug said that just as many people were killed on the highways here.”

This quickly escalated into an argument, then to a scuffle, and finally both men drew pistols outside a snack shed. The dead man was apparently just a little slower in firing. Witnesses said he stood for about five seconds before toppling on the walkway.

In a telephone interview with the Lexington paper yesterday, Moore said police had told him not to discuss his feelings about the Iraq war.

"I'm sorry this has happened," Moore, a retired railroad worker, said. "But then what's done can't be undone." Moore told the Lexington reporter he thinks Smith and his family knew him well enough "to know what my thoughts are, his family does, because me and Harold was friends. That's all I'll say."

The daughter of the dead man said the two men were friends and had discussed Iraq before. She said her father "had different opinions than everybody. He felt it was wrong that all of these young people were losing their lives over what was going on. It was just a political disagreement, like a whole lot of people have."
E&P Staff (letters@editorandpublisher.com)

My favorite line:

One witness, Sam Hamman of Prestonsburg, told the Lexington Herald-Leader, "Harold was talking about the 14 people that were killed in Iraq the other day and Doug said that just as many people were killed on the highways here.”

Jeez.



BTW, Team America is hilarious! They goto Paris to rid France of potential terrorists and suceed, leaving the city itself blown up in all different ways possible aka Eiffel Tower is blown to pieces.

I'm not saying France is a terorist state but the coalition in Iraq is replaying 9/11 over and over again to the eyes of the Middle East by going after Sadam supporters while leaving a massive amount of 'collateral damage.'

On 9/11, the terrorists didn't have collateral damage, they generally targeted everyone.

But a death is a death and if scores of innocent Iraqis are getting killed, what's the point of targeting certain radical groups in Iraq if more innocent Iraqi's are getting killed instead of 'terrorists'?

In the news, there are more Iraqi-US sympathizers killed than Americans. And on top of that, Americans are dying as they fight/blow up terrorists in Iraq and leaving 'collateral damage'. The 'collateral damage' is the result of the fighting.

But the replaying of 9/11 for Middle Easterns in Iraq is justifiable in Western eyes because... because. Because of nationalism. Realistically, the US is stronger. So it's justifiable because who can stop the most powerful policing force in the world?

 

[VIPFREAK]

I've seen two things that are very troubling lately...

1. The Twilight Zone in which the military uses civilians to test how long it takes to create a "terrorist" fearing mob.

2. Crash, which is pretty much "Don't go out side everyone is baaadd and they are out to kill you" kind of mentality.

Granted, these are Movie and T.v. but it IS a glimse in how bad things can get and well I'm getting really nervous about this whole "terrorist" thing. It's as bad as saying there's actually such a thing as "Common sense".

As for this "incident" I find it as hilarious as a cartoon where they say "No fighting in the war room" (I can't remember who it was or where I saw it).

 

[a6m5]

I think the "media" is just trying to sensationalize the story. It's couple of idiots who drew gun on each other over some stupid argument. It's not like somebody was getting hurt or ripped off because of this "dispute". They were friends? Yeah, right.

 

[Joey D]

This is why people for whatever reason don't like the war. The media blows something out of proportion. Not all people who back the war are nuts, not all people who don't support the war are nuts. But if you get to crazy mothers in a room and they start arguing someone is going to get popped.

 

[Tacet_Blue]

I think the "media" is just trying to sensationalize the story. It's couple of idiots who drew gun on each other over some stupid argument. It's not like somebody was getting hurt or ripped off because of this "dispute". They were friends? Yeah, right.

Yep, those two trigger happy muppets would have drawn their guns on each other sooner or later, regardless of the content of the argument. They were way old enough to know better.

As for this "incident" I find it as hilarious as a cartoon where they say "No fighting in the war room" (I can't remember who it was or where I saw it).

I've seen that in Dr Strangelove, when the russian envoy is taking pictures in the war room, one of the general starts to wrestle with him and the president says it.
(BTW what most people think a war room looks like comes directly from that film. )

 

[Swift]

It's sad that two people that weren't even active in the military were stupid enough to draw guns about a political argument. Especial one as subjective as the war in Iraq.

 

[ledhed]

Darwin strikes again .

 

[Ev0]

I don't think it would be a crazy bet to say that more people died on US highways in that day than in the attack.

And yes, this is Darwin Award material. I think it deserves an honorable mention.

 

[Jordan]

So nice to hear your home state in the news for something like this. 👍

 

[the_undrtaker89]

USA..USA..USA (throws fist in the air).....No,ok it's fine bad timing on my part......

 

[///M-Spec]

I don't think it would be a crazy bet to say that more people died on US highways in that day than in the attack.

I don't think it'd be crazy to say that more people have died on US highways as a result of shooting each other in road rage incidents.

If people exchange rounds over a few feet worth of asphalt, why should we be surprised that people might do the same over an argument, regardless of topic?


M

 

[FoolKiller]

Hey Jordan, I didn't realize you were in Kentucky too.

Anyway, being from Kentucky I wasn't overly surprised to hear about this. My home town has had a couple of cases of family members killing each other over card games while drinking too much.

Everyone also needs to realize that we are the same state that produced the Hatfields and McCoys, although they seem to get along now.

 

[Swift]

If people exchange rounds over a few feet worth of asphalt, why should we be surprised that people might do the same over an argument, regardless of topic?
M

Because it's a stupid reason to kill someone.

 

[///M-Spec]

Because it's a stupid reason to kill someone.

They're both stupid reasons. There's almost never a good reason to draw a pistol and shoot someone.

But someone created this thread as if it were noteworthy enough an incident to be a sort of social commentary. As if we're supposed to shake our heads and go: "Oh, tsk, tsk. What is this world coming to?"

As if there weren't people dying all the time for even dumber reasons. People shoot each other over money, a car, and more often than you might think, failed marriages. Hell, there are places you can go where you can get shot for looking at someone funny. (and that's the last time I go to my in-laws for Thanksgiving)

So two people get into a shootout over war. Am I supposed to suddenly pick this incident to begin worrying about the moral fiber of our society?

I'm MUCH more distressed at reading a story like this than reading about two crazy gun slinging old codgers that had it out over an argument. At least they were both armed in a fair fight.


M

 

[Swift]

They're both stupid reasons. There's almost never a good reason to draw a pistol and shoot someone.

M

No argument here. That's was my original point.

 

[katana87]

crap I wanted to see 2 mods argue

s0nny80y
foolkiller79
You guys just cancel my vacation to Kentucky

 

[Swift]

crap I wanted to see 2 mods argue

s0nny80y
foolkiller79
You guys just cancel my vacation to Kentucky

Go to the spirituality or creation threads to see that.

 

[Mr. Toad]

This topic of this thread almost validates my theory that
"as a species, we pretty well suck".

 

[///M-Spec]

crap I wanted to see 2 mods argue

Go to the Creation vs. Evolution thread. You can see THREE mods (sometimes four) arguing there.

But not yours truly.


M

 

[FoolKiller]

crap I wanted to see 2 mods argue

s0nny80y
foolkiller79
You guys just cancel my vacation to Kentucky

Hey, just because we are all barefoot, pregnant (just the women), like to marry our cousins, and will shoot someone for insulting our horses while drunk doesn't mean it isn't a great place to visit.

It's safe for tourists, we only shoot each other. Vists the parks, Mammoth Cave, plenty of Civil War sites, Louisville Slugger Museum, a medieval weapons museum (which is going bankrupt, please visit), there is even a castle, and we throw one hell of a party at Kentucky Derby time. And while you are here you can participate in the official state religion: college basketball. I guarantee more people have been shot over UL vs UK arguments than any other argument. Just don't wear red or mention Rick Pitino in Lexington and you will be fine.

Oh, I forgot to mention BOURBON!!!