Opinion: Trump’s decision to leave a global arms treaty was built on an NRA lie
President Trump tossed a pen to the crowd at an NRA conference in Indianapolis on Friday after signing an executive order dropping out of the Arms Trade Treaty signed during the Obama administration. By Rachel Stohl April 29 at 2:55 PM Rachel Stohl is managing director of the Stimson Center and was a consultant in the Arms Trade Treaty process.
Much to the consternation of other governments, the United States insisted that the treaty reflect U.S. standards and require no changes to U.S. law. Recognizing that the treaty would face an uphill ratification battle in the Senate, U.S. negotiators intentionally crafted the treaty to ensure that signatories held special rights and privileges in exchange for U.S. influence and leverage on the treaty’s interpretation and development in the future. The president has now given up that influence.
The ATT purposefully excludes issues surrounding domestic gun laws or regulations. It does not restrict or hinder the Second Amendment, nor does it create a national gun registry. In fact, the preamble makes specific reference to the legitimate trade, lawful ownership and use of certain conventional arms for recreational, cultural, historical and sporting activities. Insinuating that the ATT undermines U.S. laws and puts American liberty under foreign control is dishonest and misleading.
The ATT strengthens national laws and ends impunity for those that transfer arms with little regard for their impact on conflicts, communities and individuals. The ATT seeks to close loopholes that make it easier for unscrupulous arms dealers to find havens to traffic their deadly wares.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trumps, Pences leave Teacher of the Year ceremony to DeVosThe annual Teacher of the Year ceremony will be hosted by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on the White House grounds Monday afternoon, a White House official said.
Read more »
Pressed on Trumps' response to white nationalism, Kellyanne Conway brings up Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary, NY Times'That is darn-near perfection, when you're calling out KKK, neo-Nazis and you're saying there were people there who hadn't signed up for that,' said Conway.
Read more »
Melinda Gates: Capitalism needs work, but it trumps socialism and the US is 'lucky' to have itMelinda Gates, in an interview with CNBC's Becky Quick, said people living in developing countries 'want to live in these types of capitalistic societies.'
Read more »
Occidental gives Anadarko an ill-judged bear hugIts $38 bln cash-and-stock offer trumps bigger rival Chevron’s bid for the U.S. oil producer, is a two-thirds premium and in theory helps both sides. Yet Occidental’s shares are less attractive and its debt would jump. Chevron only need sweeten its offer a bit to regain its edge.
Read more »
During NRA speech, Trump drops out of another global arms treatyPresident calls pact “badly misguided” and a threat to American freedoms.
Read more »
Trump to pull U.S. out of U.N. arms treaty, heeding NRA'We’re taking our signature back,' Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from U.N. arms treaty at the NRA's annual meeting
Read more »
Trump pulling U.S. out of U.N. arms treaty, heeding NRATrump announces to crowd at NRA's annual meeting that the U.S. will pull out of U.N. arms treaty and 'dispose of it'
Read more »
Trump tells NRA he’s withdrawing from arms trade treatyWith pro-gun legislation largely stalled in Congress, President Trump said Friday he is withdrawing the U.S. from an international agreement on the arms trade, telling the National Rifle Assn. the treaty is “badly misguided.”
Read more »
Trump pulls out of arms control treaty opposed by NRATrump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama signed it soon after, but the treaty was never ratified by the U.S. Senate. The treaty was designed to encourage other countries to adopt stronger arms control measures, and has no impact on domestic gun laws.
Read more »