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The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty was passed this week by a landslide vote of 154 to 3 with 23 abstentions. Republican senators were the first to dole out their discontent with this tenacious and aggressive new treaty, with some crying that it was a “non-starter.” Many senators have now pooled their collective political resources in attempts to prevent ratification of the treaty in the U.S. congress.
Previously, last month, senators voted to prevent such a treaty from ever being a part of the U.S. by creating a new amendment. Pundits for the amendment were adamant in their convictions that such a treaty violates the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens.
“The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty that passed in the General Assembly today would require the United States to implement gun-control legislation as required by the treaty, which could supersede the laws our elected officials have already put into place,” stated Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. “It’s time the Obama administration recognizes it is already a non-starter, and Americans will not stand for internationalists limiting and infringing upon their Constitutional rights.”
Democratic Sen. Max Baucus (Montana) also was not happy about it, stating that the treaty does not do enough to “uphold the rights of Americans.”
The goal of the treaty is to reduce the impact of the estimated $60 billion global arms industry, and, moreover, to prevent such small arms from getting in the hands of terrorists and warlords. While some say that the treaty is intended only on reducing illegal arms sales, critics also voiced that this treaty could impede upon the U.S. ability to aid its allies during wartime.
The treaty can only take effect after 50 countries ratify it. In order for the U.S. to pass ratification, two-thirds of congress must vote in approval. That’s about 100 lawmakers that are required to pass the treaty for the United States.
What do you think of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty?
