A border gets people's backs up. It's not nice having a machine gun pointing at you at a road check when all you want is to do shopping in Newry.

One of my friends has a house in NI and his garden in the South.

The business of war is killing people. There is a credible argument that many people on both sides of that particular conflict perceived themselves as being at war, and that the Belfast Agreement brought an end to that war. Or, at least a long lasting truce. Now maybe, just maybe, people have got used to the idea of not killing each other as being normal, but I wouldn't want to bet too much on it.

Maybe. But my point is, that if someones reaction to uncertainty around the logistics of the Irish border is to murder someone, the fault lies 100% with them.

I am inclined to agree completely, but then what? The response will be to pursue them with legal means and, in the event that fails or take too much time, extra-legal means. And then we're right back to the 90's. 

The business of war is killing people. There is a credible argument that many people on both sides of that particular conflict perceived themselves as being at war, and that the Belfast Agreement brought an end to that war. Or, at least a long lasting truce. Now maybe, just maybe, people have got used to the idea of not killing each other as being normal, but I wouldn't want to bet too much on it.

Maybe. But my point is, that if someones reaction to uncertainty around the logistics of the Irish border is to murder someone, the fault lies 100% with them.

I am inclined to agree completely, but then what? The response will be to pursue them with legal means and, in the event that fails or take too much time, extra-legal means. And then we're right back to the 90's. 

70's and 80's, Internment without trial, hunger strikes etc.
Not to mention the 60's when the B Specials had road blocks to stop folks from the South visiting their family in the North,

The business of war is killing people. There is a credible argument that many people on both sides of that particular conflict perceived themselves as being at war, and that the Belfast Agreement brought an end to that war. Or, at least a long lasting truce. Now maybe, just maybe, people have got used to the idea of not killing each other as being normal, but I wouldn't want to bet too much on it.

Maybe. But my point is, that if someones reaction to uncertainty around the logistics of the Irish border is to murder someone, the fault lies 100% with them.

The act of setting up a border is an incitement in its own right. Most Irish or British have no idea and  revert to platitudes as above, mostly driven by the media.

Yeah right, 'platitudes'....

The business of war is killing people. There is a credible argument that many people on both sides of that particular conflict perceived themselves as being at war, and that the Belfast Agreement brought an end to that war. Or, at least a long lasting truce. Now maybe, just maybe, people have got used to the idea of not killing each other as being normal, but I wouldn't want to bet too much on it.

Maybe. But my point is, that if someones reaction to uncertainty around the logistics of the Irish border is to murder someone, the fault lies 100% with them.

I am inclined to agree completely, but then what? The response will be to pursue them with legal means and, in the event that fails or take too much time, extra-legal means. And then we're right back to the 90's. 

There's no comparison to those days.  Most of those involved are either too old or have been bought off with a comfortable life.  NI is one big protection racket, experts at extracting maximum political advantage from any given situation. 
It probably sticks in their throat that NI has gone from being the big front page issue, to a non issue in the last ten years.  Plus, the DUP are probably rubbing their noses in the fact they have bargaining power in Downing St again.
Add to that remain politicians who are on the lookout for reasons to say the sky is falling down, and are who are not above hoping it kicks off, as long as it helps their side.

Yeah right, 'platitudes'....

Simplifications.

Maybe. But my point is, that if someones reaction to uncertainty around the logistics of the Irish border is to murder someone, the fault lies 100% with them.

I am inclined to agree completely, but then what? The response will be to pursue them with legal means and, in the event that fails or take too much time, extra-legal means. And then we're right back to the 90's. 

There's no comparison to those days.  Most of those involved are either too old or have been bought off with a comfortable life.  NI is one big protection racket, experts at extracting maximum political advantage from any given situation. 
It probably sticks in their throat that NI has gone from being the big front page issue, to a non issue in the last ten years.  Plus, the DUP are probably rubbing their noses in the fact they have bargaining power in Downing St again.
Add to that remain politicians who are on the lookout for reasons to say the sky is falling down, and are who are not above hoping it kicks off, as long as it helps their side.

But the ordinary people just want to lead a normal life.

Same as anywhere, and by and large they are.  There's no appetite to turn the clock back 20-30 years. They're a political force in the Republic, they could be in government within an election or two. If they start killing again that's gone for a generation at least.
They can't fund raise in the US anymore. But they'll go back to violence because they start checking passports at the border?

Same as anywhere, and by and large they are.  There's no appetite to turn the clock back 20-30 years. They're a political force in the Republic, they could be in government within an election or two. If they start killing again that's gone for a generation at least.
They can't fund raise in the US anymore. But they'll go back to violence because they start checking passports at the border?

Sounds like something a Fine Gael politician would utter.

maybe something like this:
Nordic Passport Union

maybe something like this:
Nordic Passport Union

Exists since 1923
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Tr ... _agreement

We visited friends in the South yesterday; we had to cross the border twice.

maybe something like this:
Nordic Passport Union

Exists since 1923
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Tr ... _agreement

We visited friends in the South yesterday; we had to cross the border twice.

once on the way there and once on the way back?

maybe something like this:
Nordic Passport Union

Exists since 1923
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Tr ... _agreement

We visited friends in the South yesterday; we had to cross the border twice.

once on the way there and once on the way back?

more like S-N-S-N-S