John Kerry Defies Congress to Sign UN Arms Treaty

Against the expressed wishes of Congress, Secretary of State, John Kerry, has signed the United Nation's arms treaty.

This treaty, among other things, seeks to control the transfer and use of battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, small arms, and light weapons.

Nations that ratify this treaty are prohibited from transferring or exporting conventional weapons if they could be used in attacks on civilians or civilian buildings.

That one provision should stop any country from signing the treaty, because no one can possibly control what the new owner uses a weapon for once it leaves his own hands. What the treaty will do in this case will be to put gun exporters completely out of business.

In addition, the treaty requires that each nation signing the treaty, prevent the "diversion of conventional weapons to the illicit market." This could eventually result in all guns being banned to make sure than none of them ever managed to fall into the hands of a criminal. Would a store be able to sell you a gun at all since they couldn't possibly know what you intend to do with it? You wouldn't be able to sell a gun that you already own, for fear it would be used in a crime at some future date. Would this lead to periodic inspections to make sure that every weapon in the country is still locked up in the home it belongs in? Will yearly licenses be required for each and every gun?

I doubt very much that the American people are going to accept this new development without a fight. If our Congress decides to ratify the treaty John Kerry has already signed, over their objections, I fear that many of them will be looking for new jobs next time they come up for reelection.


Photo by M Conners at Morgue File