When Iraq invaded, occupied and annexed Kuwait, bad things happened. The extent of the rape, imprisonment, torture and summary execution perpetuated by the Iraqis was a political football in the run-up to Kuwait’s American liberation. But there’s no question Kuwaitis suffered unspeakable horrors. While we can debate the efficacy of an armed populace against military troops, you’d think the experience would foster a pretty strong gun culture, a national respect for gun rights. على العكس تماما ! In fact . . .
The National Assembly approved on Wednesday a law organizing the collection of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
According to the law, it would be permissible for police, after proper authorization from the ministry of interior, to search any public location and private or public vehicles if there was cause to believe the existence of unlicensed or unlawful firearms or ammunition.
The law stipulates that anyone possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition could be jailed for three years and fined KD 3,000. The jail time increases to seven years and the fine to KD 20,000 for anyone who deals (i.e. buying or selling) in unlicensed firearms and ammunition . . .
Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah assured the public that there will be female law enforcement personnel who will search for unlicensed firearms and ammunition inside the homes of Kuwaiti citizens, in the event the latter did not feel comfortable with male ones entering their homes with women inside them.
I don’t feel comfortable with the idea that Americans died to liberate Kuwait from tyranny, only to see tyranny reinstated by the country’s ruling elite. I’m not surprised. But I’m not comfortable, either. [h/t JA]