Man Kills Another in Dispute Over War, Press and Police Call 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 wit 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."

I'll be right back
Ok got a diet and popcorn, this out to be good

Damn! "We wuz friends".  Fucking idiots!

Quoted: I'll be right back Ok got a diet and popcorn, this out to be good

It's a dupe somewhere on here, didn't need any popcorn. Never got good.

Morons.

that messed up

Idjits.  Both of them.  I hope they aren't members here.

Quoted: Damn! "We wuz friends".  Fucking idiots!

Damn, with friends like that, duck behind you enemies

People are just nuts...

Hero rifle.

Sgatr15

Quoted: People are just nuts...

No shit....

Quoted: Morons.

Why are you calling them both morons and idiots?
No matter what your opinion is on the war or politics in general, if someone pulls a gun on you I think you can kill them in self defense.

Maybe the dead guy is an idiot because he pointed his gun and was not willing to pull the trigger.  Maybe the live guy murdered his "friend" who could not defend himself quickly enough.  I do not know, but I would say one was right and one was wrong.

It never should have gotten to that point but somebody drew first.  Someone was defending or at least trying to defend themself.

dupe