The UN Small Arms Conference ended Friday in deadlock with no formal conclusions or recommendations. In the final analysis, the complexity of the issue and the concerns of hunters, sport shooters and firearms owners world-wide prevailed. No recommendations on ammunition, civilian possession or future UN meetings, or for that matter any other subjects, were adopted. The failure of this five-year program to impact the legitimate firearms industry, and the 2nd Amendment rights of U.S. citizens was total. Anti-gun NGOs and liberal governments served notice they would not give up and would present all of their issues to the UN General Assembly this fall. Thanks should be given to NRA Board members Bob Barr, David Keene and Jim Gilmore for their crucial participation in this significant victory.
With the “U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects” wrapping up today, here is a review of the past week’s events.
Day Nine
-- Friday, July 7, 2006
With the Conference ending today, NRA will continue to closely monitor and report on all developments.
America’s gun owners must continue to be vigilant and to take action on this front. For additional information on the U.N.’s attempt to impose its anti-gun will on the U.S. and around the world, please visit www.NRAILA.org, where daily postings tracking the U.N. Conference can be found. Also, please visit www.stopUNgunban.org, or call (800) 672-0636. This site provides valuable information and an opportunity to order Wayne LaPierre’s new book The Global War On Your Guns. The book spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and abroad must heed, and exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban on civilian ownership of arms--including YOURS!
Help stop the U.N.’s attempt to thwart our Freedom. Please visit the site or call the toll-free number today!
Day Eight
-- Thursday, July 6, 2006
Diplomats continued to battle over key issues as the UN Small Arms Conference entered its next to last day. Delegates again agreed to meet in an 8:00 PM evening session, with some saying that if agreement could not be reached the Conference would be deadlocked. The concept of UN regulation of civilian firearms seems to refuse to die, even though the U.S. is adamantly holding the line on the issue. The last hours of the Conference are looked upon as the most dangerous time by the NRA’s team, which is closely monitoring all developments.
Day Seven
- Wednesday, July 5, 2006
The issue of UN regulation of civilian firearms raised its ugly head again at the UN Small Arms Conference today. The move was led by Mexico, Colombia and of all countries - Canada. Many observers were chagrined that the Canadian delegation would take such an anti-gun stand even though there is a new Conservative government in Ottawa. Canadian disarmament bureaucrats seem to be running the delegation. The U.S. held firm on the issue of civilian firearms. The meeting bogged down with little or no resolution of major issues and temporarily adjourned at 6:00 PM with an arrangement to come back at 8:00 PM and work into the night.
Day Six
- Monday, July 3, 2006
The UN Small Arms Conference ground into its sixth day with innumerable speeches and very little action. The President of the Conference, Ambassador Kariyawasam, from Sri Lanka, released another draft version of the Conference report. The draft again pushes international regulation of ammunition and again proposes UN meetings on small arms up to and including 2012. After substantial pressure from the NRA, the Conference will not meet tomorrow, July 4!
Day Five
- Friday, June 30, 2006
The fifth day of the UN Small Arms Conference saw non-governmental organizations make statements to the meeting. Mary Leigh Blek of the so-called "Million Mom March" made an emotional antigun speech to the delegates. Pro-gun groups also made presentations. Japan made an extensive presentation on gun destruction programs. Other countries continued to push the idea of international regulation of ammunition and additional UN meetings until at least 2012.
Day Four
- Thursday, June 29, 2006
Day four of the UN Small Arms Conference had several highlights. The Swiss Small Arms Survey (an antigun think tank) released its book supporting international regulation of ammunition. Although the U.S. continues to strongly oppose the inclusion of ammunition in any Conference report, several countries insist on pushing the concept. In another development, the President of the Conference appointed three "facilitators" to work on the text of the final report. The so-called facilitators are from Switzerland, Colombia and Japan.
Day Three
- Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A new draft of the UN "Small Arms" Conference "final" report became public on this third day of the meeting. Unfortunately, the draft contained provisions on two issues the U.S. considers "Red lines" and will not accept - a UN ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The proposed document also calls for UN meetings on "small arms" up to and including another conference in 2012. The U.S. is opposed to these constant meetings which seem to rehash the same issues.
Day Two- Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The UN "Small Arms" Conference entered its second day with more country statements being delivered to the delegates gathered in the General Assembly Chamber.
The highlight of today's meeting was the United States statement delivered by U.S. Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph. Joseph politely but forcefully gave the U.S. "red lines" - issues which the U.S. strongly opposes and will not allow into any Conference report or recommendations. These included interference with Americans' Right To Bear Arms, a UN ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The U.S. also said it was not ready to commit to any future conferences on small arms.
There was a strong NRA presence with Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox and NRA President Sandra Froman listening to the U.S. deliver its positions.
UN "Small Arms" Conference Opens
- Monday, June 26, 2006
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.
More Information About The U.N. Conference On "Small Arms"
As we recently reported, the "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects," will begin Monday, June 26. The conference’s absurdly lengthy title tells you all you need to know -- this meeting is about "action to prevent and eradicate" your rights. And make no mistake, the U.N., fueled and financed by the likes of Rebecca Peters and George Soros, is trying to do just that (if you have any doubt about where Rebecca Peters stands on the issue of a U.N. sanctioned ban on your firearms, please view the video clips below of her publicly stating her views). But they’re in for a fight.
As CNN.com reported this week, conference chairman Prasad Kariyawasam has received more than 100,000 letters of complaint from Americans who want the U.N. to stay out of the business of regulating lawful gun ownership in the United States.
To learn how you can continue to fight the U.N.’s Global Gun Ban and save Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms, please visit www.stopUNgunban.org, or call (800) 672-0636. This site provides valuable information and an opportunity to order Wayne LaPierre’s new book The Global War On Your Guns. The book spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and abroad must heed, and exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban on civilian ownership of arms -- including YOURS!
Help stop the U.N.’s attempt to thwart our Freedom. Please visit the site or call the toll-free number today!
Click the links below to watch video of Rebecca Peters during a debate with NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre at Kings College in London. To purchase a DVD of the entire debate visit http://www.nrastore.com/nra/Product.aspx?productid=PB%2002311.
More Like This From Around The NRA
