This story about rival Shiite factions battling each other in Karbala, Iraq during a religious festival should serve as a reminder of why, while necessary and proper under our Second Amendment, people’s militias should never in this country be allowed to become private armies. One army apparently wasn’t happy that another was pulling guard duty at some shrine and decided to move in on their territory — and the number of dead and injured women and children numbered in the low hundreds before government authorities decided to put an end to the entire festival.
“A well regulated militia” is necessary to protect The People’s freedom — not to serve as instruments of group-on-group oppression. Let’s keep it that way.
