U.N. Conference On "Small Arms"
Continues Beyond Deadline
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"...the United States... would not support any
final proposal that threatened our Right to Keep and Bear Arms..." |
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John R. Bolton |
The "U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in all its Aspects" has been extended beyond the official
closing time to accommodate ongoing negotiations over core
provisions of the conference's intended product - a non-binding
"Draft Programme of Action" that would call on member nations to
undertake a variety of actions. As we write, it is still unclear
what will be the end result of this meeting.
On July 9, the
opening day of the conference, U.S. Under Secretary of State for
Arms Control and International Security Affairs
John R. Bolton
stated the United States would only support efforts to eliminate
the global black market in firearms, but would not support any
final proposal that threatened our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Bolton's statement was a reaction to the conference's initial
"Draft Programme of Action" that included measures that would
- restrict the legal manufacture and transfer of firearms,
- prohibit civilian possession of firearms, and
- promote "international advocacy activity" that could
directly conflict with the views of certain countries.
The U.S.
message was met with hostility by representatives of other
nations (with support from anti-gun media outlets in the U.S.)
who seek far-reaching, comprehensive restrictions on not only
trade in firearms but civilian possession across the globe.
Throughout this week, several revised versions of the "Programme"
have been released, all of which still contain provisions that
remain unacceptable to U.S. negotiators.
While we will have to
wait to see the end result of this conference, we can be assured
that those within the U.N. who object to the Second Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution will continue to promote their agenda of
attacking law-abiding gun owners on a transnational level.
Please be sure to continue to express your gratitude and support
for the defense of America's law-abiding gun owners by the U.S.
Delegation to the U.N. Contact information for the U.S.
Department of State is:
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
(202)647-4000
e-mail: Secretary@state.gov
Also be sure to continue to let President George W. Bush know you
support the efforts of the U.S. Delegation. You can contact the
White House at:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
See next week's FAX Alert for a final report on this conference.
Related Stories...
More About the Efforts of the Gun-Ban Lobby
U.N. Conference Opens With Strong Warning From U.S.
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