I know many members of this community own firearms. And I have no problem with responsible ownership. Personally, I don't like 'em, so I don't carry. But I don't care about others as long as they don't bring their weapons into my house (or face). And I appreciate the ads on Kos about closing the "gun show loophole"
Almost a year ago, I wrote this after a cold-call from the NRA (supposedly) trying to get my support in stopping the UN from confiscating all personal firearms world wide as a first step to world domination. Some suggested in the comments that someone was "spoofing" by providing the NRA number while not being from the NRA.
Well....
There I was, reading the Newshounds.us articles, and there's a tile-ad with a link to National Association for Gun Rights website. From the letter written for them by Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA):
With willing one-world accomplices in Washington, D.C., gun-grabbers around the globe believe they have it made.
In fact, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just announced the Obama Administration would be working hand in glove with the U.N. to pass a new "Small Arms Treaty."
Disguised as legislation to help in the fight against "terrorism," "insurgency" and "international crime syndicates," the U.N.’s Small Arms Treaty is nothing more than a massive, GLOBAL gun control scheme. (middle paragraph emphasis his, last line's bold is mine)
Here we go again.
I know this meme has been around for some time, raw meat for the nativist militias and one world gov't conspiracy types; but now we have mainstream, if far right, gun groups promoting it. Complete with at least one congress critter's open support. The fact they can get a slam in against Hillary Clinton must be a big bonus to them.
But a quick search on the facts is all it would take to expose this garbage for the misdirection that it is. Start at the page from the UN that reports on the group. This treaty has several components (the 2008 report can be found here), but it can be broken down into three important parts:
Preventing weapons in the legal market being transfered to the illicit market for crime/terrorist purposes;
Establishing the responsibilities of exporters of weapons to prevent "gaming the system"; and
Figuring out a way to stop mass import of weapons into nation states with dictatorial or human rights abuse records.
Cue the black helicopters, right?
Now I can understand how these goals could be twisted into the idea that "they're coming for your guns!", but there is nothing about confiscation of personal weapons if the nation in question allows for them. Or even if the nation does not, that's an issue for that state's law enforcement. What it does do is try to establish procedures, responsibilities, and, most importantly, standards for the international arms trade.
Yes, you can still by that Israeli uzi, imported by a credentialed agency. But you can't ship 50,000 of them to a "private security firm" run by the gov't of Wherethefuckistan who are eyeing the oil fields of their neighbor.
To quote from the report's conclusion:
- In view of the complexity of the issues of conventional arms transfers considered by the Group on behalf of the Secretary-General and the General Assembly, further consideration of efforts within the United Nations to address the international trade in conventional arms is required on a step-by-step basis in an open and transparent manner to achieve, on the basis of consensus, a balance that will provide benefit to all, with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations at the centre of such efforts.
- The Group recognized that there are different motivations for
conventional arms production and acquisition. The Group observed that the
weapons being traded in the illicit market can be used for terrorist acts,
organized crime and other criminal activities. In addition, the Group
acknowledged the need to prevent the diversion of conventional arms from the legal into the illicit market.
- The Group acknowledged the respective responsibilities of exporters and importers. In order to begin improving the current situation, the Group recognized the need for all States to ensure that their national systems and internal controls are at the highest possible standards, and that States in a position to do so could render assistance in this regard, upon request.