Soldiers face dangerous situations at weapons turn-in stations in Iraq

Stars and Stripes ^ | European edition, Tuesday, June 3, 2003 | Sandra Jontz

[demlosers]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The next two weeks could prove perilous for U.S. troops as the military collects high-caliber weapons and munitions from Iraqis.

The danger is not in the actual collection, but having troops discern between those turning in weapons and those who might try to take advantage of the program by carrying arms in the open with the intent to harm U.S. servicemembers, said Army Sgt. Nathan Chism.

Chism is the U.S. military team leader at the Al-Bayaa police station in downtown Baghdad, one of several collection points set up throughout the city.

“It’s real dangerous. At any time, anything can happen if they’re walking up to you with a weapon,” said Chism, with the 18th Military Police Brigade out of Mannheim, Germany.

Soldiers received extra training to discriminate between people posing an imminent threat and those turning in weapons.

The amnesty turn-in started Sunday and runs through June 14.

Iraqis have been instructed to dismantle their weapons and bring them to collection sites in clear plastic bags. The instructions have been broadcast on the radio, printed in newspapers and posted at collection points.

On the first day of collections in Baghdad, people turned in nine AK-47 rifles, 50 heavy machine gun rounds, 35 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a variety of small arms ammunition, according to a news release from Coalition Joint Task Force 7.

But random checkpoints, military raids and patrols have not subsided in light of the voluntary turn-in program, said Army Maj. Scott Slaten, chief spokesman for the Army’s 1st Armored Division, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, and who is leading security missions throughout Baghdad.

In the last 24 hours of raids and patrols, for example, soldiers from the Army’s V Corps, based out of Heidelberg, Germany, seized 12 AK-47 rifles, five light machine guns, 17 rocket-grenade launchers, 11 pistols and 14 grenades, according to a release.

Baghdad still is an unsafe city. Residents are reluctant to turn in their weapons because some either fear the military and local police officers, or don’t trust they will be adequately protected.

“I have four daughters and a home. If I give my weapon, how will I protect myself and them when looters come to my house?” Ali Awad, 60, asked through a translator. “The people do not feel safe.”

He later said he does not have a weapon, but was speaking of the general mentality of the residents of Baghdad.

It’s not the law-abiding residents local police are after, said Sadi Hussain, a Baghdad police officer for 31 years.

“We know of people who have arms, and we are coordinating with Americans to collect the weapons, even if it is dangerous for us and for them,” Hussain said through an interpreter. “But the people will not turn in their arms. They are afraid of their enemies and will not surrender.”

On Monday, Nabil Sabeh visited the Al-Bayaa police station to retrieve a pistol local police confiscated the night before when he tried to defend himself against burglars. He could not produce documentation at the time, and so the gun was taken, Chism said.

But he showed up with paperwork in hand, and Chism thanked him for his patience and returned the weapon.

“This is a very good system,” said the happy 33-year-old Sabeh. “This is my personal pistol I use to defend myself. And the Americans understand my case better than the Iraqi officers.”

Though U.S. military officials aren’t anticipating a huge turn-in, they do want to give locals the opportunity to voluntarily clean the streets of illegal weapons, Slaten said.

“We’re not fooling ourselves into thinking the bad guys are going to turn in their weapons,” he said. “But they do deserve a chance.”

The U.S. military is not outlawing weapons all together.

“That would be like trying to disarm Texas. It isn’t going to happen,” Slaten said.

Handguns are permitted, so long as residents keep them in their homes, he said. “It’s not an issue until they walk down the street with it.”

It’s the bigger weapons they’re after.

“A housewife does not need an anti-aircraft armor. She doesn’t need a rocket-propelled grenade launcher ... or a .50-caliber weapon with a silencer,” he said.

Troops are taking advantage of the two-week amnesty to repair existing prisons and jails to meet international humanitarian standards, and to establish a judicial system to begin trying cases.

After the amnesty expires June 14, “the gloves are coming off,” Slaten said.

[demlosers]

At the Al-Bayaa police station, Sgt.
Nathan Chism, right, of the 615th
Military Police Company out of
Grafenwoehr, Germany, hands Nabil Sabeh's
pistol back to him. The
gun had been confiscated the
night before, but was returned
after he proved ownership.
A program started June 1,
for Iraqis to turn in
large caliber and illegal weapons.
Amnesty is being granted to people
turning in weapons between now
and June 14. Weapons like Sabeh's
are legal under the new rules.

A sign in front of
the Al-Bayaa police station
in Baghdad, Iraq, explains
how to turn in weapons.

[AntiGuv]

I heard an impressive haul of nine AK-47s had been turned in the first day!!

[Norse]

Asking Iraqis to turn in their guns is an absolutely bone idea.

Would YOU give up your gun if our country was in that state? HELL NO!

[Nebr FAL owner]

The troops realize that & would just like the really heavy stuff i.e. rpg-7's , anti tank mines, frag grenades,12.7mm heavy machine guns to be turned in they ain't totally stupid they even admit trying sweeping gun confiscation would be a bloody God awful mess & not all the blood would be Iraqi.

[Search4Truth]

The term quagmire comes to mind.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[m1911]

"a .50-caliber weapon with a silencer"

This is an Army Major? Maybe I'm out of the loop - how the hell do you silence a .50?

[ibbryn]

"50 heavy machine gun rounds"

I know people who have more than that that's slipped between the cushions of their couch.

[Oztrich Boy]

Maybe I'm out of the loop - how the hell do you silence a .50?

Easy enough if it's one of these

[Greybird]

Iraq, 2003.

The warm-up for the United States, 2013. (Or sooner.)

[eyes_only]

Are all you paperz in order???

[Shooter 2.5]

Wow! Where did you get the Smith????????

I have one with infantry sling loops. I think they only made 10,000 of them.

[El Gato]

I heard an impressive haul of nine AK-47s had been turned in the first day!!

Kinda of odd actually, since AK-47s are not required to be turned in. Anything larger than 7.62mm must be turned in, but that caliber or smaller, including full automatics, can be possesed in their home or business. Better than here actually. Here is the CENTCOM release on the matter. But the gist of it is:

Unauthorized weapons are defined as: automatic firearms firing ammunition larger than 7.62mm; machine guns or crew-served weapons; anti-tank weapons; anti-aircraft weapons; indirect fire weapons; all armored vehicles or self-propelled weapons; and high explosives and explosive devices.
No one in Iraq, unless authorized, may possess, conceal, hide or bury these weapons. No one can trade, sell, barter, give or exchange automatic or heavy weapons with or to any person who is not an authorized representative of Coalition forces.
...
Small arms--including automatic rifles firing ammunition up to 7.62mm, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols--may be possessed in homes and in a place of business. Small arms must remain at these sites and may not be taken out in public.
Only authorized persons may possess small arms in public places and those authorized persons will be issued a temporary weapons card (TWC) by Coalition Commanders.

[El Gato]

"a .50-caliber weapon with a silencer"
This is an Army Major? Maybe I'm out of the loop - how the hell do you silence a .50?

We weren't there, and newsgeeks are typically clueless when it comes to weapons, I suspect "that's a joke, Son" as old Foghorn Leghorn was wont to say.