The National Rifle Association announced plans to go head to head with the United Nations over the draft arms trade treaty, which would regulate the $70 billion global arms trade.
The NRA, in making their announcement, also asserted that the recent school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut was no reason to pass such a pact.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the UN General Assembly voted earlier this week to restart negotiations on the pact in March. If it passes, it would be the first international treaty that regulates the conventional arms trade.
A drafting conference in July collapsed after nations, like the US, requested more time. It appears the US has had enough time, however, as they supported Monday’s vote.
US President Barack Obama has come under enormous pressure to tighten laws on gun control in light of the shooting in Newtown, during which 20 first grade school children lost their lives.
NRA President David Keene announced his intention to oppose the potential arms trade treaty, adding that the recent massacre has not changed the gun lobby group’s position on the treaty. Yahoo! News notes that Keane stated on Thursday:
“We’re as opposed to it today as we were when it first appeared. We do not see anything in terms of the language and the preamble as being any kind of guarantee of the American people’s rights under the Second Amendment.”
Keane also believes that treaty is unlikely to pass the Senate with a two-thirds majority. He explained, “This treaty is as problematic today in terms of ratification in the Senate as it was six months ago or a year ago.” When the treaty initially fell apart in July, the NRA took credit for it, saying that it was “a big victory for American gun owners.”
