U.N. member states have failed to reach agreement on a new treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade

U.N. member states have failed to reach agreement on a new treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade.

Some diplomats and treaty supporters blamed the United States for triggering the unraveling of the month-long negotiating conference.

Hopes had been raised that agreement could be reached on a revised treaty text that closed some key loopholes by Friday's deadline for action. But the United States announced Friday morning that it needed more time to consider the proposed treaty -- and Russia and China then also asked for more time.

A bipartisan group of 51 U.S. senators on Thursday had threatened to oppose the global treaty regulating international weapons trade if it falls short in protecting the constitutional right to bear arms.

In a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the senators expressed serious concerns with the draft treaty that has circulated at the United Nations, saying that it signals an expansion of gun control that would be unacceptable.

The Constitution's Second Amendment offers broad protection for weapons ownership by civilians. As recently as 2008, the Supreme Court affirmed it when it struck down a ban on handguns in the District of Columbia, ruling that individuals have a constitutional right to keep guns for self-defense and other purposes.

The court also has ruled separately that treaty obligations may not infringe on individual constitutional protections and rights within U.S. borders. This goes back at least to a 1920 ruling that a migratory bird treaty with Canada, which prohibited the hunting or capturing of certain birds, was an unconstitutional interference with states' rights under the 10th Amendment.

Treaties are government-to-government agreements and do not subject citizens of one nation to laws of another or to those of an outside body.

Also, the U.N. resolution that authorized drafting of the small arms treaty recognizes the clear-cut right of nations "to regulate internal transfers of arms" and says nothing in the treaty that emerges will affect "constitutional protections on private ownership" of firearms.

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/27/un-fails-to-reach-deal-on-global-arms-trade-treaty-as-us-asks-for-more-time/

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Comment by Jim Braun on July 28, 2012 at 8:06pm: As Melvin would say in the movie Tremors, "way to go dude" could not have said it better.

Comment by stormtrooper1991 on July 28, 2012 at 7:09pm: Here it is folks. The names of the 51 senators who opposed the UN arms trade treaty: The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte
(R-NH), Max Baucus (D-MT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mark Begich (D-AK), Roy Blunt
(R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dan Coats
(R-IN), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Corker
(R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim
DeMint (R-SC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA),
Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dean Heller (R-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), Kay Bailey Hutchison
(R-TX), James Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Ron
Johnson (R-WI), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Mike Lee (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mitch
McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Nelson (D-NE),
Rand Paul (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat
Roberts (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Richard Shelby (R-AL),
Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Pat Toomey (R-PA),
David Vitter (R-LA), Jim Webb (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Comment by Jim Braun on July 28, 2012 at 4:23am: Holy shit. maybe,just maybe we actually made enough noise to turn some heads. Now,we need to keep dancing,keep the music alive. Don't stop or back down now.

Comment by truth on July 27, 2012 at 10:50pm: re stormtrooper1991 3

I am sure it will be found check back.

Comment by MAC on July 27, 2012 at 10:38pm: I want Hillery & Obamas along with all the senators that would vote for such a illegal treaty to resign, they all are guilty of treason and braking there oath to uphold the constitution.

Comment by stormtrooper1991 on July 27, 2012 at 10:06pm: A bipartisan group of 51 U.S. senators on Thursday had threatened to oppose the global treaty regulating international weapons. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT HOW MY SENATOR VOTED ?