Why Obama walked away from the Global Arms Trade Treaty

Newscast Media AUSTIN, Texas—On Friday July 27, most observers expected the U.S. to sign the Arms Trade Treaty, given the recent incidents that had happened in America like Fast and Furious, and also the Colorado shooting. To their surprise, when Barack Obama was presented the treaty to sign, he tossed the pen on the desk and walked away, leaving observers scratching their heads.

"The White House walked away at a critical moment by failing to move this treaty to conclusion. It is a tremendous loss for thousands of innocent civilians around the globe who die each year from armed violence fueled by the unregulated transfer of arms," said Scott Stedjan, Oxfam America's senior policy adviser.

In this July 18 article I wrote, (pop-up) I explained why signing such a treaty would threaten the Constitution's Second Amendment. Obama being a lawyer, knows that the issue of gun control is very sensitive, especially in an election year. It was therefore in order for him to walk away with the explanation from the White House that Obama needed more time.

In addition, on July 26, just 24 hours before Obama was scheduled to sign the treaty, 51 Senators sent both Obama and Hillary Clinton a letter voicing their concerns, and went as far as threatening to oppose the ratification of the treaty.

"...We also believe that the right of personal self-defense is a human right that is inherent in the individual. U.N. organizations, by contrast, have in the past argued that gun control is mandated by international human rights law, and that the right of self-defense does not exist," the letter stated.

On Monday July 30, two Democrats introduced another bill that would end the sales of online ammunition called The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act would require buyers who are not dealers to present a photo ID at the time of purchase. The lawmakers are New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg and New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

It is very likely that such a bill will never pass, considering the fact that the House is Republican-controlled, and the Senate already has a majority opposing restriction of firearm possession, as indicated in the above-mentioned letter. Add Comments>>

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