International & United Nations Gun Control
NRA has been engaged at the United Nations and elsewhere internationally in response to overreaching small arms initiatives for two decades. During this time, we have been actively opposing transnational efforts that would limit Americans’ Second Amendment freedoms. NRA has been a recognized Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations since 1996. Our status as an NGO allows us to closely monitor the internal UN debate over firearm issues and report back to our members.
The most pressing international threat to U.S. gun owners is the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Among its most egregious provisions, the treaty encourages national recordkeeping requirements for “end users” of covered arms (including firearms), and suggests that national governments share such records. Further, the ATT compels countries to make arms import and export decisions based upon a trading partner’s willingness to abide by the treaty’s requirements, which could isolate the United States from legitimate trade in arms or force it to adopt restrictions detrimental to Second Amendment rights. During the drafting phase, NRA vigorously advocated for civilian firearm ownership be removed from the treaty’s scope. Those recommendations were ignored, meaning U.S. firearms policy could become the rest of the world’s business and subject to its approval, on pain of trade restrictions if it doesn’t meet “international norms.”
Secretary of State John Kerry signed the ATT on behalf of the U.S. on September 25, 2013. NRA continues to work with its Senate allies to prevent ratification or implementation of the treaty in the U.S.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Norwegian parliament today (3 February) resolved by 79 votes to 16 to reintroduce lead shot for live ...
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
The SHOT Show — Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show — is the world’s largest gun show. Held ...
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
One was a young policewoman, unarmed on the outskirts of Paris and felled by an assault rifle. Her ...
Friday, December 19, 2014
Last week, Congress approved the Fiscal Year 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act. Included in the Act ...
Monday, October 20, 2014
The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, initially avoided then signed by the Obama administration (but not ratified by ...
Friday, October 17, 2014
A new firearm policy from the United Kingdom Home Office, put in force on October 15, has accelerated ...
Friday, September 26, 2014
A global Arms Trade Treaty to regulate the $85 billion industry and keep weapons out of the hands ...
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), a controversial effort that is highly sensitive in the U.S. due to ...
Friday, April 4, 2014
Today, the first anniversary of the majority-rule adoption by the U.N. General Assembly of the United Nations’ Arms ...
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Following the tragic shooting at the Washington, D.C., Naval Yard in September, President Obama turned a memorial service ...