Exit polls from Saturday's referendum on Iraq's constitution indicate that Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish groups agree only on their right to bear arms against members of the other two groups. The right to bear arms was considered a far more important right than free elections, free speech or the right to life, which in Iraq is considered practically worthless.

Iraqi constitutional experts deny that firearms are causing unecessary bloodshed in the region. “Laser-guided SAM ground-to-air shoulder-mounted rocket launchers don’t kill people,” said one Sunni human rights activist-insurgent. “The American-Zionist conspiracy does.” He also noted that unintentional deaths by firearm could be halved if mandatory safety locks were placed on all suicide bombers.

The constitutional debate is largely stalemated on all other issues. However, in a positive sign for the fledgling democracy, Iraqis have promised not to resolve these differences simply by shooting their political opponents. The nation's politicians will instead sit down and negotiate to reach a common ground, only shooting their opponents when they inevitably fail to do so.

Despite the disagreements, the former American administrator L. Paul Bremer, who was heavily involved in drafting the constitution, has rebuffed criticisms of the constitutional process. "It's simply untrue that Iraq will descend into a state of lawless civil war if this constitution fails," Bremer said. "It's been like that ever since we invaded."

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