I tweeted this out yesterday, and we discussed it a bit in the comments, but as not everyone who reads this site reads all the comments or follows me on Twitter, it’s probably best to give it a front page exposure. Katie Pavlich, Townhall:
The alleged purpose of the treaty is to prevent crime, terrorism and even war by regulating the sale of guns, but it is a rarely noted irony that some of the biggest supporters of the treaty are also the world’s most brazen supporters of terrorism, such as Iran, Syria and Cuba. Its proposed regulations extend to the level of firearms accessories, including scopes and magazines. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her support for the treaty in October 2009, saying, “The United States is prepared to work hard for a strong international standard in this area by seizing the opportunity presented by the Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations…. The United States is committed to actively pursuing a strong and robust treaty that contains the highest possible, legally binding standards for the international transfer of conventional weapons. We look forward to this negotiation.”
The final draft of the treaty is scheduled to be completed by summer 2012. The State Department, Department of Justice, and ATF have taken a leadership role in pushing the treaty. The Bush administration refused to participate ion the negotiations, but the Obama administration has been a willing participant in drafting the treaty, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the helm. Obama has said he would like to see the treaty ratified as a way of demonstrating American’s respect for “international norms.”
Because the UN’s definition of “criminal activity” in the treaty is so broad, American gun owners could find themselves prosecuted if UN officials deemed owning some firearms a crime. If the treaty were to be effective, it would imply the necessity for strict regulation of individual firearms ownership. Mexico wants the treaty to regulate hunting rifles, because it claims hunting rifles are used by drug cartels. But of course any weapon that can be used for sport of self-defense could also be used in ways that the treaty might regulate.
The treaty calls for international reporting measures that would require countries to trace and keep track of weapons sold and transferred. Not only would this consume a massive amount of government resources, it would also be intrusive. Many Second Amendment advocates regard the creation of a nationwide database of lawful gun owners and a catalog of every firearm they own as an ominous expansion of government power. The most vocal supporters of the treaty in the United States are gun control organizations such as the Brady Campaign and the Joyce Foundation (the anti-gun organization that once counted Obama as a member).
In a country where “tolerance” and “fairness” and “equality” have all been linguistically deconstructed and re-imagined as their opposites by progressives seeking to move us toward liberal fascism, it is disturbing beyond words to think what will come to count as “criminality” when the definition of that term is left up to the corrupt criminal class of politicians who seek to shore up their own power by taking away ours.
I don’t know that the Senate will have the votes to pass this even if Obama signs it — but failure to do so may be one of those moments where Obama decides to take it upon himself to issue some executive order that institutes some sort of registry, or else DHS will do the job for him through some sort of edict.
At which point, I think we’ll see a new tipping point — and quite potentially, “criminal” resistance. It’s one thing to sit out an election; it’s quite another to learn that as a result, you’re going to have your redneck rights revoked.
When I am killed when they come to collect my guns, will I be remembered as a nut or a freedom fighter? I guess it won’t matter, since I won’t be here.
If I had children, I would likely give them up.
I meant give up the guns, not the kids.
I’m firing my editor. Again.
There was a thing awhile back about the experiences of the Australians, who gave up some of their firearms to their government for destruction (lots, that is to say, but apparently not all). Seems to me now my impression of that was the Australians were none too happy with the outcome (and the silly destruction of a portion of their personal capital goods).
granted this is largely a rhetorical question, but, is Obama et. al. even going to try to square this with the Second Amendment?
Self-defense is the fundamental right of every living critter on the planet. The only people who want to take that away are those who want to force others to bow to their will.
You almost made me giggle, Ernst.
Boy, are the Hollywood libs gonna be shocked shocked to find out what’s and insult to the Prophet (PBUH), if this treaty comes into force.
Obama’s Gonna Take Our Guns Watch – Day 1,463 – Status: Guns still available
Ernst
Remember is that Obama is none too impressed with how the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, being they were cranky old white guys back over 100 years ago.
I think someone farted. Could you do that elsewhere, please?
ignore that hanging d
Obama’s Gonna Take Our Guns Watch – Day 1,463 – Status: Guns still available
So, slipperyfuckstick, the ATT is a good idea that you’re right behind, yes?
– Jug ears said today “The majority of americans agree with my tax the rich plan.” (paraphrased)
– Which, in case you harbored any doubt, means full speed ahead on attacking the free market and open opportunity, and also means the investment groups will keep all that money offshore until things change, if they ever do.
– Bumblefuck is going to prove the man with gold doesn’t make the rules until it kills us.
Oh phew. Slippery slope says there’s nothing to worry about.
I’m so relieved.
And the only women abortions are still safe and legal is because Obama won.
womens- reason
*fires editor as well
Well, you were all SURE guns would have been outlawed by now, and, well, they haven’t been. So far your track record on The Sky Will Fall Predict-o-Meter is zilch.
But the more disconnected from reality you remain, the less likely you are to win, so keep it up fellas!
Obama only won through massive and wide scale vote fraud too!
Obama has said he would like to see the treaty ratified as a way of demonstrating American’s respect for “international norms.”
You know, “international norms.” Like poverty, child labor, slavery, tyranny — that kind of stuff. Why, I think I’ll go home right now and measure my wife for her new burlap sack!
Well, you were all SURE guns would have been outlawed by now, and, well, they haven’t been.
Evidence, liebot?
Well, you were all SURE guns would have been outlawed by now, and, well, they haven’t been. S
Oreally? Why don’t you link it where we seriously predicted that?
I’ll wait.
But, since it didn’t happen (while Obama was busy with oh so more important things, like getting himself elected, which one WHIFF of gun control would have sunk like a rock), certainly that means it will never happen, right?
Well, you were all SURE guns would have been outlawed by now,
and I’m sure you can link to where “we all” said that.
Tell me, did you use 2% or whole milk on that bowl of straw?
Whoa: Dave Petraeus just resigned, says the radio news.
Breaking: Petreaus is stepping down. Submits resignation.
So, slipperyreality, is the ATT a good idea?
Obama is bankrupting the country. Obama is killing brown people with drones, like it’s a fucking video game. Obama is enriching his 1%er buddies with “investments” in their stupid, counterproductive projects. Obama is keeping Guantanamo open for business. Obama is telling foreign regimes that the U.S. will not act to counter their power plays in Asia and the Middle East. These are matters of established fact.
How you can appoint yourself head cheerleader for such a regime, and then pretend to some sort of moral or intellectual superiority over those of us with eyes to see, is something I don’t think I’ll ever understand. Really — what kind of monster are you, that you would not merely advocate for all these destructive behaviors, but cheer them on, and belittle the good people who stand against them?
Huh. Petraeus is quitting over ‘an extramarital affair.’
Sure.
Really — what kind of monster are you, that you would not merely advocate for all these destructive behaviors, but cheer them on, and belittle the good people who stand against them?
Because shut up.
We need to do an updated version of that liberal boilerplate bit. And by “we” I mean Jeff.
yea, it’s OUTRAGEOUS.
Yawn.
I mean, really? An affair? Dems didn’t even care when their president did that.
This slipperyslope fellow is rather intolerant of different points of view.
What a bigot.
It’s bullshit. They all loved it when Clinton was a playah.
Preferable to “natural causes,” I’d imagine.
Actually, Leigh, slippery slope is kind of lame and boring. But we get trolls so infrequently …
He was here before, Carin. Several times, as a matter of fact and was just as lame then.
An affair? Really?
If it really happened, he just took away any blackmail effort on the part of Obama to keep quiet about Benghazi.
(Think Dagney’s radio speech after finding out about why Hank signed away Reardon Metal)
Teddy Roosevelt. Yeah, he wasn’t a progressive icon.
keep fucking that chicken
A statement someone wrote in Obama’s name on Petraeus’ resignation:
“David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. By any measure, he was one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end. As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger.
Today, I accepted his resignation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe. Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time.”
Nice shout out to the injured wife.
Which do you think is coming first: new gun control executive orders from an Obama enjoying the “flexibility” he described to the Russians, or the long-promised economic recovery?
Remind me, slippy — did we just wind up Recovery Summer 3? Or was it 4? At least my “delusion” hasn’t resulted in 23 million people out of work…
No asshole; we didn’t. Remember the SCOTUS case ruled in favor of gun rights a few years back? Remember Obarry’s first term? In other words, not an opportunity rich environment.
‘Cept for now. Know why?
Nice shout out to the injured wife
Or warning shot.
I lay dollar to donuts she knows the full score. by Petraeus’ wording, the affair is something that happened in the past. She may have known and forgiven him about it long ago prior to Obama’s machine finding out.
– The slipperies slither in and drop some inane piece of Bunblefuck lore, just for the attention. They know they’re more full of crap than Elvis after an 8 cheeseburger day, but its what the mentally challenged do for giggles when 2 straight days of WoW gets a bit boring.
– Just invoke Goodwins rule, and they slither away like the worms they are.
Oh! Me! Pick me Mistah Kottah!!!
…cuz he had to worry about, oh, I don’t know, getting re-elected?
Oh gosh, what happened last Tuesday?
(Then one has to wonder what the Fast and Furious scheme was about. Let’s see if the troll uses the usual lie to excuse it.)
Voter fraud? Why, that’s to laugh.
Incidentally, all the people who pretended the emperor wasn’t standing there knock-kneed with his dick hanging out weren’t connected to reality reality, only to the false reality they’d insisted on creating, one in which the emperor’s junk was a codpiece made of hair-covered finery and bejeweled with beads of lint.
There’s a lesson in there for you: reality is not what most people say it is. That’s perception. And that’s all you’ve got. Squid handled the rest quite well, I think, so I’ll refer you to him for any further comment.
Yeah, this resignation sounds like a pre-emptive strike from Patraeus. Someone was trying to blackmail him, and he did the only sound thing to do in those circumstances, which is to go public.
Hopefully he’s also going after the blackmailer.
That’s incredible, Jeff. I thought the votes found in the trunk was blatant, but this is even worse.
Naturally, we won’t hear a damn thing about it.
The richness of the metaphor notwithstanding — it is a metaphor, right? — you wouldn’t believe how apt that is in the market right now. I’ve been listening to Obarry’s speechifying bullshit about tax classes and how congress owes the nation a budget compromise and all the other unmitigated post-reelection bullshit aimed at the sucking-up class while I watch the banks and indices move around, and Jeff, it is utterly and fabulously untrue. I have possibly never in my life heard this level of mendacity.
The market is responding to reality and tanking, and the best we can say about Obarry’s verbal heroin is that it constitutes a kind of rhetorical Keynesianism: What he says can be jerked out of and over normal downward trends to the tune of some fraction of a percent, but then the whole mess crashes back down, all the worse for wear. Dollar in; ten cents out.
This is positively alien to reality. Barry’s not out of his little narcississtic woods yet. If we pull this thing back out it won’t be the Republicans that do it by a long shot. It’ll be little progressive man — the jobless former restaurant reviewer and dimbulb tool senator from Illinois — head swelled with Regime II, utterly broadsided by God’s fine reality.
I’m sure you can propose another metaphor but this is some kind of stiffing the mistress where we’re all Obarry’s unwilling mistresses. Screwed up doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Cranky-d, see here, and here too. Mr. Superpopular!!!
They’re not even pretending any more, are they?
“Car in says November 9, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Actually, Leigh, slippery slope is kind of lame and boring. But we get trolls so infrequently …”
Fuck Lincoln. He was on the wrong team in Savage Curtain.
I got that. I don’t know who else did.
One! Ah AH AH!