There are currently no international laws or treaties regulating the international sale of conventional weapons. You read that right. There is more international oversight of the sale of bananas and iPods than grenade launchers and AK-47s. As a result, the bullets killing our troops in Afghanistan and the weapons used by warlords to commit genocide in Africa are purchased on the black and grey international weapons markets that thrive in this unregulated environment. Thankfully, all of that is about to change -- at least, we hope.
This July, the nations of the world are gathering in NYC to negotiate the first ever Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which would set up a global framework to regulate the international weapons trade and close loopholes exploited by evil doers around the world. A robust ATT would help prevent weapons sales to states that are human rights violators, and create uniform laws and transparency that would put a serious squeeze on black market arms dealers who supply weapons to terrorists.
As a result, a large and ideologically diverse coalition has emerged to support this treaty. Some of the strongest voices come from the faith community: The National Association of Evangelicals and National Council of Churches have joined the Vatican and the World Evangelical Alliance to call for a robust ATT. Last spring American Values Network organized Christians in 48 states from over 3,500 mostly evangelical congregations to join in a day of prayer and fasting for a successful ATT. And numerous services and prayer rallies are being organized around the upcoming July negotiations.
Joining this chorus of the faithful have been a number of retired generals and admirals who are echoing the Pentagon's assessment that the greatest future threats to America's troops and security will likely come from terrorist groups and small bands of guerrilla fighters -- currently arming themselves through the under-regulated international weapons market.
Last but not least are the humanitarian organizations like Oxfam, Amnesty International, Arms Control Association and countless others who toil non-stop to be a voice for the voiceless and make our world a safer and more just place. Yesterday, more than 50 groups from this combined faith, security, and humanitarian coalition submitted a letter to President Obama thanking him for his Administration's leadership on this issue, highlighting the treaty priorities, and encouraging the President to "seize the historic opportunity to negotiate a robust, bullet-proof Arms Trade Treaty."
You'd think there would be universal support for a treaty that will help stem the flow of weapons and ammunition to terrorists, warlords, pirates and dictators -- that would help save American lives and reduce atrocities around the globe. But if so, you haven't met the NRA and Heritage Foundation.
Sadly, for these groups, politics and money are more important than protecting our troops, patriotism and moral decency. And in the ATT, they see a way to raise money by telling their base that Obama and the UN are coming to take your guns. They know full well that 1) the ATT charter forbids it from having any impact on domestic gun laws or sales, 2) the Obama Administration has said it would oppose any treaty that threatens the Second Amendment, and 3) no international laws trump our Constitution. But what are facts when money is to be made and political muscles can be flexed?
And so yesterday, the NRA got an amendment introduced in the Senate to forbid the U.S. from participating in negotiations of an Arms Trade Treaty that would violate the Second Amendment. But rather than fighting the amendment as the NRA had hoped, supporters rallied every Democrat to endorse the NRA amendment, sending a clear message that the ATT is no threat to the Second Amendment, and the Second Amendment is no threat to the ATT.
Bishop Elias Taban, a former child soldier who now heads the evangelical churches of Sudan, has said this treaty would be an "answered prayer" for him and his people. It would be a disgrace if a fundraising ploy by the NRA and Heritage somehow prevented Bishop Taban's prayer from being answered.
You may not have known what the ATT was before reading this piece, but now you know what it is and what is at stake. Spread the word in your communities and congregations. Check back on American Values Network's ATT page over the next few weeks to learn more about the Day of Prayer and Fasting and other events leading up to the July negotiations. And pray that our leaders will put our moral interests over the special interests and lead the world toward a robust ATT with strong humanitarian protections that will create a brighter future for all of God's children.
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Dennis A. Henigan: Some State AGs Would Rather Please the NRA Than Enforce the Law
1. The ATT states clearly that arms are to be had only by government authorities. How could such a mandate not infringe on domestic gun laws and sales?
2. I dont trust Obbuba with the issue as he represents a party that spent decades trying to erase the right to bear arms.
3. International treaties CAN trump the constitution if our govt agrees to said treaties.
So the US is saying to the rest of the world "Do as I say not as I do"? I can live with that. But can you?
This does not start to address the cost in lost development opportunities due to populations being either in conflict or in post conflict scenarios where simply surviving is more than most can do.
If you responded to the Kony 2012 campaign, you were addressing a consequence of the small arms and conventional weapons global crisis. The same applies if donated food or money to people in Darfur, if you were involved in the campaigns to end the use of Child Soldiers or stopping the trade in Conflict Diamonds.
Today a former warlord and despot Charles Taylor of Liberia was sentenced to 50 years for the role he played in the civil war in Sierra Leone. See http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brian-wood/charles-taylor-crimes_b_1556196.html
In addition to necklacing people (putting burning tires around people necks), the RUF rebels also made chopping of limbs of non combatants a trademark.
Justice finally caught up with Taylor but there are many more like him willing to send guns to the wrong people who then commit atrocities.
Surely we can agree that it is better to do all we can to stop the Charle's Taylors of the world before rather then after they kill and maim their thousands. Surely fighting for a strong ATT is the least we can do.
In Africa and the mid east you can cash buy full auto weapons and RPGs from roadside stands. The population seems to like it that way. You can bet that this ATT wont affect them.
The weapons producing nations to be concerned about will never agree to this treaty. Chinas Norinco for example relies on the global arms trade for the bulk of its massive weapons sales. They have cloned every small arm and manage to sell them for a fraction of the cost of the originals. M16, AK 47, AK 74, etc... come full auto right out of the box and sell for less than half of what they would cost if manufactured in Russia or the US.
Norinco has also cloned everyone elses explosive devices. Anti tank mines, and anti personnel mines are all manufactured with cheaper materials and safety features omitted to reduce production cost.
RPGs have also been cloned to be sold for rock bottom prices, several models are available according to the Norinco website.
Armored vehicles including tanks are listed as sale items as well.
I dont see China wanting anything to do with this treaty. They and others like them will end up arming the world as they please while our nation will be severely restricted. How does this make the world a safer place.
Money is truly their god, and they worship assiduously.
I attach below, the NRA's official financial statements from 2010 to assist you. To summarize, out of $233 million in revenue collected from all sources, Membership dues, program fees from member participation in NRA programs, and sales from the NRA Store account for $127 million. Advertising fees, investments income, rental income, and other account for $30 million. Contributions represent $55 million. These contributions represent individual contributions, endowments, sportsman's organizations, US and state government contributions, and yes some industry contributions. Total contributions from all sources represent only 23% of all income to the NRA annually.
Now, who does the NRA work for? Their 4.5 million members who pay their bills, that's who. They are a tool of the 4.5 million paying members, and the remainder of the 80 million gun owners who don't contribute but should because they benefit too. So let's not hear these rumors spread again, OK?.
http://apps.sos.wv.gov/business/charities/readpdf.aspx?DocID=134331
People's concerns about this treaty are based on the last pass at this which failed. They are now trying a second time, and people are skeptical that they will not try to do the same things they did in the last one. This is not made up, it is history. The proof will be in the final draft of the treaty this summer. But I am betting heavily with all the anti-gun groups involved that they will end up in the same place they did last time.
After taking office he has signed several bill allowing even more freedom to carry.
I just saw Wayne LaPierre announcing that if the President is reelected he will immediately begin confiscation of our weapons.
Will the lies ever cease?
However, under Pres Obama we have seen:
1) Attempts to ban imports of some shotguns.
2) A ban on the re-importation of collector item US made rifles
3) The reclassification of spent US ammo cases so they could not be sold to US reloading companies and instead were being shredded and sold to China at a comparative $$ loss
4) Attempts to track and restrict the sales of certain rifles in the US
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/04/14/464599/wayne-lapierre-wingnut-over-the-edge/?mobile=nc
Treaty is a backdoor attempt to Amend the US Constitution and effectively destroy the Second Amendment. Fortunately, 67 votes are required in the Senate to make this US law. It will not get 50 votes. DOA.
Every other argument against ATT is mere hyperbole.