It's always nice to start the week with some good news. $:-)
Posted on 07/09/2006 3:16:53 PM PDT by lrb111
As a major UN conference to tighten rules for combating the illicit gun trade ended yesterday in disarray, Canada tried to build momentum for a new gathering that would speed up international control of the weapons.
"This was total meltdown," said Anthea Lawson, spokesperson for the International Action Network on Small Arms. "Seldom have diplomats worked so hard for so few results. They've squandered an opportunity to save thousands of lives."
The conference, a five-year review of the UN's 2001 program of action to eradicate the illegal arms trade, was attended by envoys from dozens of countries. But after two weeks of talks, the devil remained in the details.
The conference was held behind closed doors, and diplomats refused to speak to the media. But a leaked copy of Canada's proposal — supported by a number of states — called for a one-week meeting to be held in Geneva in 2007.
It would focus on a set of global principles to govern the transfer of all small arms and light weapons, and develop a strategy to mobilize enough resources to put the 2001 plan of action into effect in countries that lack the money and trained personnel to do so. As well, it would look for ways to reduce the demand for guns used by criminals and militias that routinely violate human rights.
Those are some of the topics gun control advocates hoped would be endorsed at the UN meeting.
But a glance at the documents delegates laboured over for days shows that countries crossed out so many suggestions that the results appear to be weaker than in 2001.
After the meeting, exhausted delegates, many of them looking dejected, strolled through the corridors puzzling over why the meeting went so wrong.
While some muttered that the United States' hard line on gun ownership and international regulation of ammunition was largely to blame, others said that many countries objected to clauses that would restrict their ability to buy or sell small arms.
But Sri Lankan Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, president of the conference, said he didn't consider the meeting a failure. "It ended without a final document, but a lot of work was done and there was a sense of collective will that we will see the program of action implemented," he said.
It would have been worse, he said, if the conference produced a document that rolled back some of the program, as it appeared to be doing earlier in the week.
The UN program, while voluntary, has sparked tighter laws in many countries.
"The program of action is still in effect and it will continue," Kariyawasam said. "It's unfortunate that there were differences about how to handle the issues."
The U.S. opposed a further UN review meeting. And it is unlikely to support Canada's proposal for a parallel conference in Geneva. The National Rifle Association, which attacked the conference as an infringement on American constitutional rights, also condemned efforts to continue the talks.
Canada, which helped push through a land-mine treaty at a 1999 Ottawa meeting, said in its statement that the international community "must do everything in its power to stop the carnage wrought by the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, while respecting the legitimate interests of lawful firearms producers, exporters, retailers and users."
But, it said, the Geneva meeting would be funded on a "voluntary basis" and take place only if countries anted up. The plan was hailed by European delegates.
see you at the board meetinng on Tuesday
I'll be there...would you mind reminding me in skype on tuesday though? Please?
"Gun control led to the deaths of millions during the 20th century."
Yes, but that is of no importance to the gun-grabbers. Though it is the almost inevitable result of complete victim disarmament, it is glossed over as being no big deal. What IS important is that NO ONE, outside of governments everywhere and the UN forces have access to firearms. The UN obviously wants ITS troops to not be hingered in their quest for kinky and perverted sex in exchange for food and/or other favors. And an angry, ARMED father would tend to upset the poor Peacekeeper no end and put a damper on his fun with the ten year old daughter or son. OBVIOUSLY this cannot be allowed to happen. GET RID OF THOSE PESKY GUNS!
It's always nice to start the week with some good news. $:-)
that's right! no product, just a lot of busy-body talk...
Real good new would have been that all of the delegates contracted lasa fever from one of the backward African delegates and died contaminating the UN building and causing the entire thing to be quarantined forever, because as long as they and the criminals they represent live they will continue to be a threat to our freedom.
Sounds like a typical day at the UN. All these circle jerks really care about is what is being catered into the meeting.
Thank you John Bolton and President Bush!
Thank you John Bolton and President Bush!
Thank you John Bolton and President Bush!
>>>>"They've squandered an opportunity to save thousands of lives."
>>Who is she kidding? Gun control led to the deaths of millions during the 20th century.
That always deserves this link, for academic backup:
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM
Therein lies the truth. It's hard to oppress your people if its hard to by guns.
For home protection, a Mossburg pump or a M-1911 will do the trick.
It is my belief that MOST diplomts wouldn't know a hard day's work if it bit 'em in the butt. Perhaps I can also be disabused of my belief that all of these UN "meetings" are excuses for a shtupfest and opening many bottles of champagne.
Amen brother!
I'll bet the lying bastards at the Brady Center (aka Handgun Control) and the Violence Policy Center are wailing and gnashing their teeth.
From what I have seen over the years, the prime qualification, for employment at the Brady Center or the Violence Policy Center, is being a damned liar.
L
Thanks for starting my day off with a good laugh!
The hallmark of tyrants. One needs no further information to understand the evil of these people.
Let's be careful, here. Our beloved Constitution says that any treaty made under US authority is the supreme law of the land.
Article VI, Sec 2: "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding."
That last part is a the most troubling. You know that future Leftists will use this to say that International Law binds US law, no matter what the Constitution says.
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