Posted on 04/22/2009 10:06:47 AM PDT by Zeddicus
Obama Proposes Signing Treaty To Ban Reloading -- Even BB guns could be on the chopping block
Gun Owners of America Fact Sheet 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
When President Obama went to Mexico in April, he proposed that the United States sign the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.
Despite the fact that it purportedly deals with illicit manufacturing and trafficking, GOA is convinced that this convention defines these terms much more broadly and potentially presents serious dangers to Americans lawfully exercising their Second Amendment rights.
PURPOSES AND DEFINITIONS
Although the word illicit is used extensively in order to make the convention sound less anti-gun than it actually is, we need to look very carefully at the purposes and definitions to see whether it is, in fact, limited in scope to persons illegally moving guns across borders in order to arm violent criminal cartels:
The seventh precatory clause STRESS[ES] the need, in peace processes and post-conflict situations, to achieve effective control of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and other related materials in order to prevent their entry into the illicit market; -- thereby endorsing comprehensive gun and ammunition control, in violation of McClure-Volkmer (which deregulated ammunition) and of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
Furthermore, the tenth precatory clause supports a know-your-customer policy for dealers [in firearms] -- something which would rapidly lead to an abolition of firearms in a country as large and transient as the United States.
And the twelfth precatory clause acknowledges the rights of parties to enact their own gun laws, but only with respect to aspects of a wholly domestic character.
We have seen, as recently as the April 15 New York Times, how battles with the Mexican drug cartels have been fanned into an issue which is being used to justify the passage of every major gun control initiative in modern American history.
We see how these slippery slope findings are actually implemented when we look at the definitions:
Illicit manufacturing of firearms is defined as assembly of firearms [or] ammunition... without a license...
Hence, reloading ammunition -- or putting together a lawful firearm from a kit -- is clearly illicit manufacturing. Modifying a firearm in any way would surely be illicit manufacturing. And, while it would be a stretch, assembling a firearm after cleaning it could, in any plain reading of the words, come within the screwy definition of illicit manufacturing.
Firearm has a similarly questionable definition. Borrowing from the open-ended definitions in federal law which have continue to vex us (and people like Olofson in Wisconsin), any barreled weapon which... may be readily converted to expel a bullet would be a firearm. Even worse, any other weapon (a term which is not defined) is a firearm. This surely includes BB guns -- and who knows what else.
Cartridge cases and projectiles are defined as ammunition.
SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS
In Article IV, parties commit to adopting necessary legislative or other measures to criminalize illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms. Remember that illicit manufacturing includes reloading and modifying or assembling any firearm in any way. And, while treaties should not trump the Bill of Rights (in contrast to what the Supreme Court held in Missouri v. Holland), they do have the force of statute -- which would mean that the Obama administration could promulgate regulations on the basis of this treaty which would ban any modification or machining of any firearm in any manner whatsoever except by license of the government.
Article IV goes on to state that the criminalized acts should include association or conspiracy in connection with said offenses -- which is arguably a term broad enough to allow, by regulation, the criminalization of entire pro-gun organizations or gun clubs, based on the facilities which they provide their membership.
Article V requires each party to adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offenses it has established in accordance with this Convention under a variety of circumstances. We know that Mexico is blaming U.S. gun dealers for the fact that its streets are flowing with blood. And we know it is possible for it to define offenses committed in its territory in a very broad way. And we know that we have an extradition obligation under Article XIX of the convention. And we also know that other countries such as Spain have tried to use their treaty powers to put American officials on trial.
Article VI requires appropriate markings on firearms. And, it is not inconceivable that this provision could be used to require microstamping of firearms and/or ammunition -- a requirement which is clearly intended to impose specifications which are not technologically possible or which are possible only at a prohibitively expensive cost.
Article VII requires confiscation and forfeiture of illicit firearms.
Articles VIII, IX, and X would increase the role of government, in ways which cannot be foreseen, in supervising the import and export of firearms and ammunition.
Article XI requires the maintenance of any records, for a reasonable time, that the government determines to be necessary to trace firearms. This provision would almost certainly repeal portions of McClure-Volkmer and could arguably be used to require a national registry or database.
Article XIII authorizes the exchange of information with respect to FFLs -- presumably providing information on Americans to the corrupt Mexican police which are the source of many, if not most, of the illicit firearms.
Finally, under Article XXIX, if Mexico demands the extradition of a lawful American gun dealer, the U.S. would be required to resolve the dispute through other means of peaceful settlement. Does anyone want to risk sweltering in a Mexican jail at the mercy of the Obama administration?
This fact sheet was prepared by Mike Hammond, GOAs legislative counsel.
They would only have to ratify the treaty, which could be hidden in some other thing they don’t read.
So this is how it will start. Keep your guns but no ammo.
I am sorry, but I can’t.
I was on my boat with all of my guns. I was drunk and my guns fell overboard.
I was irresponsible and feel very stupid about the accident so I didn’t report it to the police or tell anyone I know. This life-changing event did help me to cut back on my drinking and during my moment of sobriety, I came to realize how horrible and dangerous these instruments of evil and death can be.
I am now a conscientious objector and I no longer eat animal flesh. I now have baskets of fresh vegetables all around the house in hopes of appeasing anyone that might come in my unlocked doors to harm me.
I am building a potato gun, but it’s only going to be used to call the neighbors for help should the phone service be down. I even planted some pretty flowers at the end of my driveway in hopes that the sight and fragrance will put anyone that sees them in a better mood.
I also affixed an Obama sticker on my mailbox so that others can see that I am for hope and change.
So no way could I join your hateful and violent cause, but I invite you to join with me in changing the world.
I would type more, but I have to go to the neighbors, because right this very moment....... I feel like I need a hug.
Heh.
Funny, that’s what happened to me as well. Must be a lot of that going around.
I really hate when that happens. Mine fell overboard in the Gulf in about 10,000 feet of salt water. I was trying to swat away the obambi unicorns who were trying to get to my cotton candy when the boat capsized.
This would be troubling indeed, if it were not based upon pure speculation about what the Administration might do.
I get enough speculation from the MSM as it is. Please call me when something real materializes along these lines...
WOW! YOu too???? What a small world. I knew I shouldn’t have stood up and leaned across to the cooler, but but I just couldn’t help myself.... the beer was really tasty, and at the time I was mad as hell my guns all fell in the lake, heck I even dove for them 3 or 4 times, but now I look back at that episode and thank Obama for the epiphany that has changed my life.
Some tofu? I made extra.
Kum bi ya my FRiend.
Truly Amazing.
Thank you for the offer, but just last night we prepared a tofu turkey.
I don’t think Obama’s enforcement officers will bother coming up to the house now that we have finished residing each of our buildings with recycled Family Planning signs... and put on rainbow colored roofing.
Well, I have to go make my under the table spending money, my PETA friends are bringing by several dead dogs for me to bury.
Peace and love.....
;>)
This isn't speculation:
In Mexico, Obama Seeks Curbs on Arms Sales
MEXICO CITY President Obama, vowing to confront drug cartels that are sowing chaos in our communities, called Thursday for the Senate to ratify a long-stalled treaty aimed at curbing illegal arms trafficking.The Obama administration had already pledged to send more agents to patrol the border with Mexico and more helicopters to Mexico. But on Thursday the president went a step further, announcing that he would press the Senate to ratify the long-stalled inter-American arms treaty, which the United States had a major hand in negotiating through the Organization of American States.
The treaty, signed by President Clinton, stalled in the Senate, but went into effect in 1998 after two dozen other nations ratified it.
Not speculation - he IS pushing ratification of this, and the NYT conveniently omits what the treaty actually means.
If we wait until it gets to the senate and they quietly slip it through, it will be too late.
Agree that his opinion makes no difference to me, never did. As to the above...what they CAN do and what they WILL do are worlds apart.
It would have taken just ONE member of the HOUSE and ONE member of the SINate to stop his ascendancy to the throne. All we got were crickets.
LOL! Excellent!
Or... Kimber My FReind.
All my guns, ammo and reloading equipment were lost when my shed caught on fire.
It was upsetting to see all that gone to waste, but it was quite the fireworks show.
:)
This is getting fun.
They are clearly dying to ban guns. Ammo and gun sale have never been this high. If they do ban guns again, they will be voted out of office. If they come to collect them they are in for a nasty fire fight.
lose lose situation for the socialist.
Im with you.
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