Only 10 weeks after it began, the power-sharing government of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland was halted, stymied by the continuing conflict over the issue of paramilitary weapons.

It's a paramilitary weapon.

"Which is also a police and paramilitary weapon," Bannon said.

This is not to say that none of the paramilitary weapons that Mr. Sugarmann objects to could be prohibited.

They're military and paramilitary weapons.

The dealer's mercenaries would have modern, paramilitary weapons and an old familiarity with murder on their side.

Talk of integrating schools and sports has given way to divvying up parliamentary spoils and "decommissioning" paramilitary weapons.

They also have paramilitary weapons.

The renewal of terrorist activity has rekindled demands that Sinn Fein comply with the Good Friday peace deal by turning in its cache of paramilitary weapons.

It set out plans for devolved government and provided for the early release of terrorist prisoners and the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.