UN Conference on "Small Arms" Continues Beyond Deadline

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, prohibitions against the civilian possession of firearms, and the promotion of "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— [email protected]

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—[email protected]

See next week’s FAX Alert for a final report on this conference.