Senate stopped UN Arms Trade Treaty - Good News

[Hammerhead]

Senate votes 53-46 to stop US from joining UN Arms Trade Treaty
By Ramsey Cox - 03/23/13 04:36 AM ET

In the last batch of amendment votes to the budget, the Senate voted on several foreign policy proposals.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced an amendment that would prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty in order to uphold the Second Amendment. His amendment passed on a 53-46 vote.

Republicans have been critical of President Obama’s decision to consider the treaty, although Obama has said he would not vote for anything that would violate the Second Amendment.

The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty would regulate international arms sales. Negotiations end on March 28.

“We’re negotiating a treaty that cedes our authority to have trade agreements with our allies in terms of trading arms,” Inhofe said. “This is probably the last time this year that you’ll be able to vote for your Second Amendment rights.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) offered an alternative amendment that clarified that under current U.S. law, treaties don’t trump the Constitution and that the United States should not agree to any arms treaty that violates the Second Amendment rights. His amendment passed by voice vote.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said he thought it was irresponsible to be considering major foreign policy decisions at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/s ... z2OPgVYRoS
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[Hammerhead]

So it Begins falling apart

29 Mar, 2013, 12.38PM IST, TNN
India to reject global arms trade treaty

India feels the burden of obligations rests largely on the importers because they have to satisfy the exporters on end-user verification, on keeping national records of weapons and ammunition used, etc. In fact, New Delhi wanted ammunition transfers to stay out of the treaty's scope, but that too fell by the wayside.

A lot of international arms transfers are no longer outright sales, but incorporate leases, and even barter deals in exchange for resources etc. That should have been part of the treaty but it isn't. The treaty absolves any state which transfers arms under its own control if it states that it retains control of such arms. This means diversions and illicit transfers will continue to happen under different guises.

The treaty applies to transfers of battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, small and light weapons, while ammunition and parts and components are also brought under scrutiny.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... ms?curpg=2

New Delhi had several concerns which Indian negotiators, led by Sujata Mehta, who heads the Indian mission at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, fought on, but virtually none of them have been incorporated by the treaty's co-authors, led by Peter Woolacott of Australia. The current round of negotiations in New York is the second and final round. The first round, held last July, didn't have an agreement largely because the US backed out.

[jonahpach]

Funny how our government cant digest what it doles out to its citizens..

[bennedose]

Funny how our government cant digest what it doles out to its citizens..

Yes. Imports are denied for civilians but India wants to keep on importing for defence needs. I would have been quite happy if this treaty was implemented. India needs to be squeezed by foreign suppliers before we increase innovation in our arms/weapons industry.

[spin_drift]

India abstains from voting on global arms trade treaty

NEW DELHI: India abstained from voting on a global arms trade treaty which was passed overhelmingly by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. India's status as the world's biggest arms exporter turned out to be a huge vulnerability because the treaty, according to Indian officials, leans heavily towards the interests of exporting countries rather than importers. The treaty, the first ever intended to limit illicit arms trade was passed with 154 votes in favor, 3 against and 23 abstentions. Other countries joining India in abstaining were China, Saudi Arabia, Russia among others.

Link to the complete article: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 348625.cms