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Europe
Europe Panel Proposes Torture Trade Ban
2005-07-01
The European Commission proposed EU-wide legislation Thursday banning the trade of goods designed for torture and executions, including electric shock belts, electric chairs and guillotines. The proposal, which needs the backing of all 25 European Union governments, would order countries to impose "strict controls" on those products and multipurpose goods that could be used "to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," the EU executive said in a statement. Among the multiple-use goods were leg irons and electric shock weapons that have both a legitimate use but also could be used for torture. EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin said trade in such goods from EU nations is "extremely minimal," and the proposed legislation updates similar national rules already in place. "There is no huge flow of equipment that has to be halted," she said.
So there's nothing at stake. How Y'urp-peon.
Posted by:Fred

#21   Don't overlook the Anti-American aspect to this. After this is enacted,certain EU members can have a fine time once again lecturing America how wrong it is to torture the poor innocents in Guantanamo and then they can make America the first country that this applies to.
Two rules of thumb for the EU-anything it does is designed to help France and anything they say has an Anti-American agenda.
Posted by: Stephen   2005-07-01 21:22  

#20  jfm...lol!
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-01 20:20  

#19  I'm sure that hangnails are on there somewhere.
Posted by: jules 2   2005-07-01 19:53  

#18  I've got some fine telescoping steel batons on sale. They're dual use. You can use them as a pointer in your The EU Constitution Is Really Great Shit presentations and to wake up people caught sleeping during your The EU Constitution Is Really Great Shit presentations. The 26" model sells like hotcakes. But I don't take overseas orders - fuck 'em.
Posted by: .com   2005-07-01 13:44  

#17  What about whips?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-07-01 12:00  

#16  In fact the EU Constitution has dual use: if you hit the guy with it, it can cause major physical damage due to its size and weight, if you read it to him the guy will be driven nuts.
Posted by: JFM   2005-07-01 10:48  

#15  -The unabridged text of the EU Constitution

Ouch. It is funny 'cus it is true.
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-07-01 09:46  

#14  The following books are being banned from sale since they could be used for torture:

-The unabridged text of the EU Constitution

-The complete works of Giscard d'Estaing
Posted by: JFM   2005-07-01 09:12  

#13  ...including electric shock belts, electric chairs and guillotines.

Europe still makes these things? They are even more backwards and barbaric than I thought.

...on those products and multipurpose goods that could be used "to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,"
That could be everything. All things, including paper and lemon juice can be used as a torture device. Boneheads. Kill all trade. Brilliant.
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-07-01 09:09  

#12  Does this mean we're not going to have to listen to anymore leftist screeds?
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-07-01 08:28  

#11  So much for the sex industry over there.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-07-01 07:44  

#10  But it's OK to sell anything to China. Or Iran.

Sounds like an alliance in the making.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-07-01 07:27  

#9  interesting point too true.
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-01 07:08  

#8  And if you are looking for a hangman's tree - The western US produces some of the very best. Good strong hemp ropes too.
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-01 07:07  

#7  Capt America - be sure and get the French model - per capita chops have been proven far superior to any made elsewhere. Tried and Tested.
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-01 07:04  

#6  Damn they kill the market for guillotines!

Umm what about pliers?
Posted by: True German Ally   2005-07-01 07:01  

#5  EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin said trade in such goods from EU nations is "extremely minimal," and the proposed legislation updates similar national rules already in place.

This is an attempt to assert EU control over national laws. They deliberately chose a topic / goods that no one is likely to argue should trade freely, in order to set a precedent for other things.
Posted by: too true   2005-07-01 06:55  

#4  Damn it! I just ordered a eurp-eon gullotine too. The French make the best you know.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-07-01 01:31  

#3  So much for car batteries, and a whole shitload of other stuff. Dental instruments, bye bye...

Great idea.
Posted by: mojo   2005-07-01 00:58  

#2  impose "strict controls" on those products and multipurpose goods that could be used "to inflict torture

Well that certainly narrows it down...
Posted by: R   2005-07-01 00:21  

#1  EU-rabian Blather is molar grinding torture also. I want justice! BAN the c*cksuckers or worse!
Posted by: Red Dog   2005-07-01 00:20  

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