N.M. Senators Studying U.N. Arms Treaty

WASHINGTON – A proposed global small arms trade treaty under negotiation at the United Nations has American gun advocates warning of an erosion of the Second Amendment rights, while New Mexico’s senators are taking a wait-and-see approach.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly began discussions this month for the first legally binding global treaty that would regulate the international arms trade and try to prevent the transfer of weapons to armed groups and terrorists.

The treaty has been on the U.N. agenda since 2006, when the U.S. under former President George W. Bush voted against the resolution that launched the process. Although most observers expect the U.N. to pass the treaty, it would need ratification by two-thirds of the Senate to be binding against the U.S.

The politically powerful National Rifle Association has lobbied vehemently against the proposal. The group’s president, Wayne LaPierre, spoke to the U.N. this month and warned them that the bill would falter in the U.S. Senate if the civilian firearms provisions are not removed.

“The only way to address NRA’s objections is to simply and completely remove civilian firearms from the scope of the treaty,” LaPierre said. “That is the only solution. On that, there will be no compromise.”

The treaty, which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has endorsed, is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The U.N. Office for Disarmament Affairs this month issued a press release that said the treaty “will not seek to prohibit citizens of any country from possessing firearms or to interfere with the legal trade in small arms and light weapons.”

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., last year joined a dozen other Democratic senators urging President Barack Obama to oppose any U.N. measure that would “in any way regulate the domestic manufacture, possession or sales of firearms and ammunition.”

“Last year, Sen. Udall communicated to the administration that he would not support the ratification of a treaty if it in any way impedes upon the constitutional rights of American gun owners,” said Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla, who added that he maintains that position.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said he couldn’t take a position on a treaty that hasn’t been submitted to the Senate yet, but said it would not erode Second Amendment rights.

“The treaty has not been negotiated, drafted or submitted to the Senate for consideration,” Bingaman said. “Any such international agreement, should it be ratified by the Senate, would not supersede the rights afforded under the Second Amendment.”
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal