06
Member
From an E. A bit long but worth reading-just don't shoot the messenger, wc
> Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama? The guy who "wasn't going to take away
> our guns"?
>
> Well, guess what?
>
> Less than 100 days into his administration, he's never met a gun he
> didn't hate.
>
> A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and
> bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn't have the
> political power to take away our semi-automatics. Nevertheless, that
> didn't keep him from pushing additional restrictions on American gun
> owners.
>
> It's called the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing
> of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other
> Related Materials. To be sure, this imponderable title masks a really
> nasty piece of work.
>
> First of all, when the treaty purports to ban the "illicit"
> manufacture
> of firearms, what does that mean?
>
> 1. "Illicit manufacturing" of firearms is defined as
> "assembly of
> firearms [or] ammunition... without a license...."
>
> Hence, reloading ammunition -- or putting together a lawful firearm from
> a kit -- is clearly "illicit manufacturing."
>
> Modifying a firearm in any way would surely be "illicit
> manufacturing."
> And, while it would be a stretch, assembling a firearm after cleaning it
> could, in any plain reading of the words, come within the screwy
> definition of "illicit manufacturing."
>
> 2. "Firearm" has a similarly questionable definition.
>
> "[A]ny other weapon" is a "firearm," according to
> the treaty -- and the
> term "weapon" is nowhere defined.
>
> So, is a BB gun a "firearm"? Probably.
>
> A toy gun? Possibly.
>
> A pistol grip or firing pin? Probably. And who knows what else.
>
> If these provisions (and others) become the law of the land, the Obama
> administration could have a heyday in enforcing them. Consider some of
> the other provisions in the treaty:
>
> * Banning Reloading. In Article IV of the treaty, countries commit to
> adopting "necessary legislative or other measures" to criminalize
> illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.
>
> Remember that "illicit manufacturing" includes reloading and
> modifying
> or assembling a firearm in any way. This would mean that the Obama
> administration could promulgate regulations banning reloading on the
> basis of this treaty -- just as it is currently circumventing Congress
> to write legislation taxing greenhouse gases.
>
> * Banning Gun Clubs. Article IV goes on to state that the criminalized
> acts should include "association or conspiracy" in connection
> with said
> offenses -- which is arguably a term broad enough to allow, by
> regulation, the criminalization of entire pro-gun organizations or gun
> clubs, based on the facilities which they provide their membership.
>
> * Extraditing US Gun Dealers. Article V requires each party to "adopt
> such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the
> offenses it has established in accordance with this Convention" under a
> variety of circumstances.
>
> We know that Mexico is blaming U.S. gun dealers for the fact that its
> streets are flowing with blood. And we know it is possible for Mexico
> to define offenses "committed in its territory" in a very
> broad way.
> And we know that we have an extradition obligation under Article XIX of
> the proposed treaty. So we know that Mexico could try to use the treaty
> to demand to extradition of American gun dealers.
>
> Under Article XXIX, if Mexico demands the extradition of a lawful
> American gun dealer, the U.S. would be required to resolve the dispute
> through "other means of peaceful settlement."
>
> Does anyone want to risk twenty years in a sweltering Mexican jail on
> the proposition that the Obama administration would apply this provision
> in a pro-gun manner?
>
> * Microstamping. Article VI requires "appropriate markings" on
> firearms. And, it is not inconceivable that this provision could be
> used to require microstamping of firearms and/or ammunition -- a
> requirement which is clearly intended to impose specifications which are
> not technologically possible or which are possible only at a
> prohibitively expensive cost.
>
> * Gun Registration. Article XI requires the maintenance of any records,
> for a "reasonable time," that the government determines to be
> necessary
> to trace firearms. This provision would almost certainly repeal
> portions of McClure-Volkmer and could arguably be used to require a
> national registry or database.
>
> ACTION: Write your Senators and urge them to oppose the Inter-American
> Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
> Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.
>
> Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
> http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the
> pre-written e-mail message below.
>
> ----- Pre-written letter -----
>
> Dear Senator:
>
> I am urging you, in the strongest terms, to oppose the Inter-American
> Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
> Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.
>
> This anti-gun treaty was written by international bureaucrats who are
> either stupid or virulently anti-gun -- or both.
>
> This treaty could very well ban the ability to reload ammunition, to put
> new stocks on rifles lawfully owned by American citizens, and, possibly,
> even ban BB guns!
>
> There are too many problems with this treaty to mention them all in this
> letter. The rest can be read on the website of Gun Owners of America
> at:
> http://www.gunowners.org/fs0901.htm
>
> Please do not tell me the treaty has not yet been abused in this way by
> the bevy of Third World countries which have signed it. We do not
> expect the real ramifications of the treaty to become clear until the
> big prize -- the U.S. -- has stepped into the trap.
>
> For all of these reasons, I must insist that you oppose ratification of
> the treaty.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> ****************************
>
> What's Your Current GOA Status?
>
> Obviously, we now face years of invigorated attacks on our gun rights.
> Shutting down gun shows, prohibitions on specific calibers, another
> semi-auto ban, and the anti-gun extremists' Holy Grail of mandatory
> federal licensing and registration of all gun owners -- these are just
> some of the horrors that we already know we'll have to defeat head-on.
> Not to mention this treaty nonsense. Meanwhile, we'll take every
> opportunity to go on offense and advance the Second Amendment.
>
> It can't be done without every single voice being counted. That's why
> we are asking you to consider making the commitment of becoming a Gun
> Owners of America Life Member. By doing so, you put the politicians on
> notice that neither you nor GOA is going away -- that no matter who's in
> the White House, there is always going to be a solid wall of resistance.
>
> Now is a perfect time to become a Life Member. And if you aren't a GOA
> member at all, isn't it time you became one?
>
> Please go to http://gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm to upgrade your
> participation in GOA.
> Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama? The guy who "wasn't going to take away
> our guns"?
>
> Well, guess what?
>
> Less than 100 days into his administration, he's never met a gun he
> didn't hate.
>
> A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and
> bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn't have the
> political power to take away our semi-automatics. Nevertheless, that
> didn't keep him from pushing additional restrictions on American gun
> owners.
>
> It's called the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing
> of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other
> Related Materials. To be sure, this imponderable title masks a really
> nasty piece of work.
>
> First of all, when the treaty purports to ban the "illicit"
> manufacture
> of firearms, what does that mean?
>
> 1. "Illicit manufacturing" of firearms is defined as
> "assembly of
> firearms [or] ammunition... without a license...."
>
> Hence, reloading ammunition -- or putting together a lawful firearm from
> a kit -- is clearly "illicit manufacturing."
>
> Modifying a firearm in any way would surely be "illicit
> manufacturing."
> And, while it would be a stretch, assembling a firearm after cleaning it
> could, in any plain reading of the words, come within the screwy
> definition of "illicit manufacturing."
>
> 2. "Firearm" has a similarly questionable definition.
>
> "[A]ny other weapon" is a "firearm," according to
> the treaty -- and the
> term "weapon" is nowhere defined.
>
> So, is a BB gun a "firearm"? Probably.
>
> A toy gun? Possibly.
>
> A pistol grip or firing pin? Probably. And who knows what else.
>
> If these provisions (and others) become the law of the land, the Obama
> administration could have a heyday in enforcing them. Consider some of
> the other provisions in the treaty:
>
> * Banning Reloading. In Article IV of the treaty, countries commit to
> adopting "necessary legislative or other measures" to criminalize
> illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.
>
> Remember that "illicit manufacturing" includes reloading and
> modifying
> or assembling a firearm in any way. This would mean that the Obama
> administration could promulgate regulations banning reloading on the
> basis of this treaty -- just as it is currently circumventing Congress
> to write legislation taxing greenhouse gases.
>
> * Banning Gun Clubs. Article IV goes on to state that the criminalized
> acts should include "association or conspiracy" in connection
> with said
> offenses -- which is arguably a term broad enough to allow, by
> regulation, the criminalization of entire pro-gun organizations or gun
> clubs, based on the facilities which they provide their membership.
>
> * Extraditing US Gun Dealers. Article V requires each party to "adopt
> such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the
> offenses it has established in accordance with this Convention" under a
> variety of circumstances.
>
> We know that Mexico is blaming U.S. gun dealers for the fact that its
> streets are flowing with blood. And we know it is possible for Mexico
> to define offenses "committed in its territory" in a very
> broad way.
> And we know that we have an extradition obligation under Article XIX of
> the proposed treaty. So we know that Mexico could try to use the treaty
> to demand to extradition of American gun dealers.
>
> Under Article XXIX, if Mexico demands the extradition of a lawful
> American gun dealer, the U.S. would be required to resolve the dispute
> through "other means of peaceful settlement."
>
> Does anyone want to risk twenty years in a sweltering Mexican jail on
> the proposition that the Obama administration would apply this provision
> in a pro-gun manner?
>
> * Microstamping. Article VI requires "appropriate markings" on
> firearms. And, it is not inconceivable that this provision could be
> used to require microstamping of firearms and/or ammunition -- a
> requirement which is clearly intended to impose specifications which are
> not technologically possible or which are possible only at a
> prohibitively expensive cost.
>
> * Gun Registration. Article XI requires the maintenance of any records,
> for a "reasonable time," that the government determines to be
> necessary
> to trace firearms. This provision would almost certainly repeal
> portions of McClure-Volkmer and could arguably be used to require a
> national registry or database.
>
> ACTION: Write your Senators and urge them to oppose the Inter-American
> Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
> Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.
>
> Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
> http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the
> pre-written e-mail message below.
>
> ----- Pre-written letter -----
>
> Dear Senator:
>
> I am urging you, in the strongest terms, to oppose the Inter-American
> Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
> Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.
>
> This anti-gun treaty was written by international bureaucrats who are
> either stupid or virulently anti-gun -- or both.
>
> This treaty could very well ban the ability to reload ammunition, to put
> new stocks on rifles lawfully owned by American citizens, and, possibly,
> even ban BB guns!
>
> There are too many problems with this treaty to mention them all in this
> letter. The rest can be read on the website of Gun Owners of America
> at:
> http://www.gunowners.org/fs0901.htm
>
> Please do not tell me the treaty has not yet been abused in this way by
> the bevy of Third World countries which have signed it. We do not
> expect the real ramifications of the treaty to become clear until the
> big prize -- the U.S. -- has stepped into the trap.
>
> For all of these reasons, I must insist that you oppose ratification of
> the treaty.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> ****************************
>
> What's Your Current GOA Status?
>
> Obviously, we now face years of invigorated attacks on our gun rights.
> Shutting down gun shows, prohibitions on specific calibers, another
> semi-auto ban, and the anti-gun extremists' Holy Grail of mandatory
> federal licensing and registration of all gun owners -- these are just
> some of the horrors that we already know we'll have to defeat head-on.
> Not to mention this treaty nonsense. Meanwhile, we'll take every
> opportunity to go on offense and advance the Second Amendment.
>
> It can't be done without every single voice being counted. That's why
> we are asking you to consider making the commitment of becoming a Gun
> Owners of America Life Member. By doing so, you put the politicians on
> notice that neither you nor GOA is going away -- that no matter who's in
> the White House, there is always going to be a solid wall of resistance.
>
> Now is a perfect time to become a Life Member. And if you aren't a GOA
> member at all, isn't it time you became one?
>
> Please go to http://gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm to upgrade your
> participation in GOA.
