International Arms Trade Treaty? Is Obama really saying no more guns?

The husband needed to make a visa trip to a local consulate so....I got to stay in my pj's this morning. Thus, I've had time to sip my morning coffee, read and write. Thanks husband! You so rock!

Politics coming your way....get ready........it may really offend you......

I read this earlier. The blog was very recently published:
http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/06/07/u-n-agreement-should-have-all-gun-owners-up-in-arms/2/

Now, after reading Mr. Bell's article, I got to wondering, again. First, I must tell you, I smelled a whiff of this before when a story similar to this was floating around via a chain email. But, with the stench of American politics in the air (yes, I do enjoy rolling around in it...but that's another subject...), I decided to do a bit of light reading.

First, I went and read the bit published by the UN dated 26 October 2006 titled "INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRADE TREATY AIM OF DRAFT RESOLUTION

APPROVED BY DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE

Seven More Texts Recommended to General Assembly;
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Small Arms Among Issues Addressed" [Sorry, that didn't cut-n-paste so well.] Here's the link: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gadis3335.doc.htm A few things to draw your attention to. First, this was 'published' during the Bush era. Second, the US had loads of 'no way' looking type votes as part of this. For example, "The Committee also approved a draft on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects by a vote of 172 in favour to 1 against (United States)." I can blog all I want about this, but you just gotta go read the whole thing for yourself to really understand it.

Ok. Next, I went and read what was being said elsewhere in the press about this. Was this old news or new news? http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=abkyS4.975YM I found this article dated 30 October 2009. It's looking like it's old news to me. Sniff, sniff, sniff....whew? Can you smell the American politics? I better go put some old clothes on, 'cause I'm fixin' to go rollin' in it. I'm smelling that maybe Mr. Bell has a political agenda?

It was now time for me to check with some folks who love to dig around in this stuff. Have a read:
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/12/international-gun-ban-treaty/ Folks, this is old news. And further, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is not an idiot. Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was not an idiot either. But, these two exceptional ladies work(ed) for presidents with very different approaches to foreign policy. In my opinion, Bush never really negotiated stuff - it was just vote 'No'. Obama, on the other hand, will 'negotiate' rather than just vote 'No'. Now, if you have ever negotiated anything in a country that is used to haggling, than you know that you stand firm but keep talking. If you just say 'No' and walk away, than you are not giving the other party a chance to 'save face' and discuss things so that they feel like they are getting a good deal. You've got to talk; you've got to listen. But, that doesn't mean you ain't gonna get what you want in the end. And, it looks so much better to the rest of the world than just voting 'No'.

This stuff is not simple. There's a reason (if you live in the States) that you were forced to study U.S. History and Government in school. It was a brave attempt to prepare you to vote, to be part of a vibrant democracy. If you are one of the ones who (to quote from FactCheck.org, "Nevertheless, a Gallup poll in October found that 41 percent of all Americans and 52 percent of gun owners believe that Obama will try to ban the sale of guns. And people are acting on these beliefs: A run on ammunition has created shortages for sport shooters, and FBI background checks, required of most would-be gun purchasers, were up 25 percent in the first five months of 2009 compared with a year earlier" than clearly you need to read more. Obama can not take away guns. He can't change the US Constitution. And, seriously, do really think really hard core gun control laws would have a prayer of passing in the current political climate in the States? Do you really think there are Democrats who would help pass hard core gun control laws? Seriously? I don't think so folks. Sniff, sniff, sniff.....

Peace.