The UN "Small Arms" Conference opened today. Antigun NGOs were out in force, but the NRA and other pro-gun rights organizations were also present.
The highlight of the day was when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan claimed that Conference's purpose was not to ban "law abiding citizens right to bear arms..." Annan even made a veiled reference to the NRA when he departed from his prepared text, turned to the President of the Conference, and said words to the effect he wanted to "...repeat this for those who don't understand or refuse to understand..." This was probably in response to the very effective NRA campaign to publicize the Conference. Regardless of Annan's statement, the topic of "regulation" of civilian possession still alive.
The U.S. will make its initial statement Tuesday afternoon.