Second Amendment Foundation alarmed about UN ATT

[Six-Shot]

SAF ALARMED AT ABSENCE OF CIVILIAN
ARMS RIGHTS IN
UN ARMS TREATY

BELLEVUE, WA – The controversial Arms Trade Treaty passed by the United
Nations General Assembly (GA) with the United States’ support represents an
alarming policy shift, and a potential threat to American gun rights, the Second
Amendment Foundation said.
“The vote was not about public safety,” stated SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M.
Gottlieb. “The United States already has the strongest regulations in the world
on the international trade of conventional weapons.”

The U.S. broke with its policy requiring consensus and not only voted for the treaty but
sponsored it.
Julianne Versnel, SAF’s Director of Operations, who spoke about self-defense in an NGO, statement
expressed disappointment.
“We have been working for 7 years on an ATT. There have been eight lengthy multi-day meetings
and we still can't get the right of civilians to self-defense acknowledged,” she
observed.
On March 27, after the final text of the ATT was released, SAF sent a letter to Assistant Secretary Thomas M. Countryman expressing concern
and asking for clarification regarding several provisions of the proposed
treaty. Also signing the letter were the National Rifle Association,
Manufacturers Advisory Group, World Forum on Shooting Activities, Defense Small
Arms Advisory Council, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute and
Firearms Import/Export Roundtable. This laid out five main reservations.

Of primary concern is the fact that civilian arms appeared
to be included in the treaty, yet there is no recognition of the lawful right of
civilians to own, trade and use small arms for self-defense. The language
used in the Scope does not exclude “firearms that are lawfully owned by
civilians and are not part of international commerce.” The language was also
unclear concerning international travel with firearms by hunters and sport
shooters.
Additionally it was unclear whether relics and curios would fall under this treaty or whether
state-owned museums would be able to transport artifacts to other countries
without export licenses. There is also concern that the amendment process for
the treaty, and the possibility that major provisions could be effected by a
minority.
The ATT will be open for signatures on June 3. Although President Obama has indicated he will
sign it, the Treaty would have to be ratified by the Senate before it becomes
binding on the United States.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest
and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group
focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess
firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members
and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public
about the consequences of gun control.