SAAMI Gains Seat At U.N. Table

With the United Nations' continued attempt toward international gun ban treaties marching forward, it is heartening to finally get some good gun-related news out of the U.N.  The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) has recently been granted official consultive status to the U.N.

Founded in 1926, SAAMI publishes voluntary industry quality and safety standards, coordinates technical manufacturing data, and promotes safe and responsible firearms use.  Virtually all new firearms sold in the United States adhere to the approximately 700 standards set by SAAMI that are reviewed by the National Institute Of Standards and Technology.

Commenting on the group's new status, SAAMI Managing Director Rick Patterson noted, "The U.N. creates treaties and model regulations. It's important for our industry to have a voice in both of these arenas....[s]o SAAMI can now speak up during deliberations over any treaties that could ultimately render America's Second Amendment null and void.  Second, the United Nations is very active in developing international regulations. There are thousands upon thousands of model regulations for countries to adopt, and SAAMI now has an official opportunity to provide input in the creation of these models. We can't prevent politicians from deliberately making bad decisions, but we can make sure they don't unintentionally make bad decisions from a lack of knowledge."