NRA TO ATTEND ARMS TRADE TREATY MEETING

NRA will be in attendance at the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) “Preparatory Committee” meeting in New York, July 11-15.  The so-called “Prep. Com.” will be laying the ground work for a final negotiation session in 2012.  NRA’s message will be simple and strong – an ATT which in any way, shape or form affects the constitutional rights of American gun owners is simply unacceptable.  Civilian firearms must not be within the scope of an ATT.  There will be no compromise on this crucial point. 

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) agrees with NRA’s position and has drafted a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton expressing “grave concern about the dangers posed by the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty.”    

Members are strongly encouraged to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to stand by Sen. Moran, the Constitution and America’s gun owners by supporting and signing this critically important letter (you can find contact information for your U.S. Senators here, or you may contact them by phone at (202) 224-3121).      

As we have often reported, NRA has been engaged at the United Nations and elsewhere internationally in response to anti-small arms initiatives for more than 15 years.  During this time, we have been actively opposing transnational efforts that would limit Americans’ Second Amendment freedoms and have been monitoring and actively fighting any and all attempts on the part of the UN to restrict our sovereignty and gun rights. 

NRA has been a recognized Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations since 1996.  Our status as an NGO allows us to closely monitor the internal UN debate over firearm issues and report back to our members.  Our NGO status also allowed NRA to take an active role in thwarting the absurdly titled “UN Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects” in 2006, and the previous meeting, the “UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons” in the summer of 2001. 

In addition to its UN activities, NRA is a founding member of the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities.  The WFSA is an association of hunting, shooting, and industry organizations that was founded in 1996.  The WFSA includes over 35 national and international organizations, representing over 100 million sport shooters worldwide. 

NRA members may rest assured that NRA will be actively involved in this process and will oppose any treaty that attempts to impose limits on our Second Amendment rights.  In the meantime, members should contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to sign Sen. Moran’s letter.