UN Guns Treaty: How the NRA Reacted When Obama Signed Arms Accord

In April 2013 the United Nations general assembly approved a new arms treaty, the Arms Trade Treaty, by a vote of 154-3. Three nations opposed the treaty — Iran, Syria, and North Korea — and it stirred up strife among many conservatives in America, who say the U.N. guns treaty is a violation of Second Amendment rights.

The National Rifle Association is staunchly opposed to the U.N. guns treaty. When United States Secretary of State John Kerry signed the treaty on behalf of the Obama administration, the NRA said the treaty was a demonstration of the administration’s contempt for the Second Amendment.

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“The Obama administration is once again demonstrating its contempt for our fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms,” said Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action.

The U.N. guns treaty went into effect in America as of Dec. 24, 2014; however, it must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Senate before it becomes law. According to TheBlaze, the treaty stands “very little chance of being ratified.”

Catherine Mortenson, spokesperson for the NRA, told TheBlaze, “We are worried about an end-run around Congress. Barack Obama or a future anti-gun president could use ATT and international norms compliance to rationalize enacting gun control policies through executive actions, especially in the import and export realms.

“Even now, with an existing appropriations rider prohibiting action to implement the treaty unless it is approved by Congress, administration officials are publicly professing support for international efforts to bring the treaty into effect. That’s outrageous,” Mortenson said.

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According to the NRA-ILA article, a bipartisan group of senators already oppose the treaty and have introduced legislation that will prevent America from approving the treaty.

The article stated that, “On March 23, the Senate adopted an amendment to its FY 2014 Budget Resolution, offered by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), that establishes a deficit-neutral fund for ‘the purpose of preventing the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.’ This amendment is in addition to the previous efforts of Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) to pass concurrent resolutions opposing the treaty in their respective chambers.”

Cox called the UN guns treaty is a “blatant attack” on Second Amendment freedoms in the NRA-ILA article, and said the NRA continue to fight “assaults” on fundamental freedoms.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.

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