Secretary Kerry Will Sign UN Arms Trade Treaty

Obama administration officials say Secretary of State John Kerry will sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) “during annual United Nations General Assembly meeting this week.”

As Breitbart News reported in March, the ATT hands the executive branch the power to work with other governments around the world to shut down portions of the U.S. import firearms market. Such shut downs will be possible by seizing on ambiguous terms and phrases within the ATT–like claiming certain classes of guns are “inappropriate” or claiming others endanger “women and children.” 

Moreover, because the treaty includes a focus on the movement of “small arms [and] light weapons” across borders, it will require some degree of gun registration if it is to be effective. Without the ability to ascertain the origins of these weapons how will enforcing agents know who is moving them across borders?

The Associated Press reports that “more than 85 countries have signed the treaty, but it will not take effect until 50 nations have ratified it.”

On March 23, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced an amendment to keep the U.S. from entering into the treaty. Inhofe’s amendment passed by a vote of 53 to 46. (For a list of the 46 Senators who voted “Yes” click HERE.)

However, once the U.S. has officially signed the treaty it can be called up for future Senate votes to accept or reject a resolution of ratification.

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins