Experts Say Curbing Gun Violence Takes Int'l Action (From The UN ITSELF)

United Nations Wire ^ | July 14 | Jim Wurst

[Dan from Michigan]

Experts Say Curbing Gun Violence Takes Int'l Action

Monday, July 14, 2003

By Jim Wurst, U.N. Wire

UNITED NATIONS — What progress has been made in controlling the illicit trade in small arms —and whatever future progress can be made — is due to increasing national awareness and regional cooperation in stopping the trade, said the chairman of the U.N. small arms conference that ended Friday.

Reports presented at the conference "revealed a much higher state of preparedness to prevent future illicit [arms] transfers and misuse" and the recognition of "a growing need … for the development of a regional perspective to combat the illicit trade in small arms," Ambassador Kuniko Inoguchi of Japan, the conference chairman, wrote in a report presented at the end of the meeting.

At a news conference Friday, Inoguchi said, "I would not claim we have achieved some heroic and ambitious outcome," but have only started to implement actions against small arms and explore what the United Nations can do. "One of the most important outcomes of this conference is that a lot of countries have shown their initiatives," she added.

A common theme running through Inoguchi's paper is that the issues cannot be thoroughly addressed only on the national level. Rather, it is best when there is strong regional and international cooperation.

For example, in the case of the collection of illicit arms already in the field, she wrote, "There is a growing awareness among both affected countries and donor governments that future programs of weapons collection would attain more lasting results by covering a sub-region rather than a single country."

Inoguchi estimated that 4 million weapons have been collected and destroyed over the last decade, with half of that happening in the last two years. "Could we make a marked difference in such a short period of time? I'm not so sure but we have to start working at some time. [This meeting] has assured a strong momentum on the side of the affected countries and those who want to help affected countries," she said.

In July 2001, the U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects devised a program of action meant to encourage greater international cooperation in addressing the issue. Last week's meeting was the first biennial session to report on the progress in implementing the program. The week consisted largely of governments, regional organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the African Union and U.N. agencies reporting on new initiatives designed to implement the program.

Small arms and light weapons are generally those weapons that can be maintained, fired and carried by one or two people, such as assault rifles, pistols, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and shoulder-fired anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Rebecca Peters, the director of the nongovernmental International Action Network on Small Arms, called the conference "a success" because it has placed small arms "firmly on the agenda. ... Although there is obviously still a lot of work to do."

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, she said, "It is clear that reporting in itself spurs governments to take action to reduce the proliferation of small arms." IANSA was "calling on governments to step up their activities to make sure that this is a program of action … and not just a permanent conversation about stopping small arms violence," Peters added.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States, Inoguchi said there has been more focus on the links between terrorism and other illegal activities and small arms violence. Pointing out that the original conference took place less than two months before the attacks, she said she expected the agenda will broaden because of "the changing circumstances of the threat of terrorism and the general phenomenon of weapons [getting] into the wrong hands, either small arms or weapons of mass destruction."

In her report, she wrote, "The lack of borders in international crime and migration trends have seen an alarming rise in terrorist activities over recent years, [therefore] states are encouraged to develop a common approach, including the establishment of norms and standards, in order to fight terrorism and organized crime." She also wrote that the same pipelines are often used for terrorism, the arms trade and smuggling drugs and precious metals.

Peters said another reason for encouragement is a greater recognition of how disarmament is seen relating to health and development "and not just as an isolated area of policy." Saying "we represent the victims of gun violence who will never get to the United Nations," she said the statements delivered at the conference were "very strong on the humanitarian front [because] the real cost of small arms is the damage that they cause to human health and communities' well being." She said this concept "is very much more on the agenda than it was before."

Two areas of international cooperation that have become the subject of debate and study have been the possibilities of international conventions for a universal system of marking and tracing weapons and on regulating arms brokers.

Inoguchi said there could be "an early start of negotiations" on marking "but it is only a starting point." The goal of a universal system of marking weapons would be to make it possible to track illegal weapons back to their source, thus holding either manufacturers or brokers responsible.

An international convention on arms brokers is expected in the future, she said. Most of the efforts in this arena are being made by "like-minded groups," such as the European Union, Inoguchi said, rather than on the international level. While it may be possible to develop "a more enhanced attitude towards brokering, ... we have a long way to go" before there is an international agreement, she added.

Peters said IANSA will be pushing for a legally binding convention on marking and tracing and on brokers.

[ninenot]

I know the consequences and the line of thought.

However, the fact remains that it is damn near IMPOSSIBLE to convince the average USA-dweller that the Gummint (at any level) is going to pull off a massive gun-grab FOR THE PURPOSES of maintaining control.

Look at the pictures of GWBush. Would HE do that?

[appalachian_dweller]

>> ...IMPOSSIBLE to convince the average USA-dweller that the Gummint (at any level) is going to pull off a massive gun-grab FOR THE PURPOSES of maintaining control. <<

I have to concede that you're probably correct. If you haven't already, check out post #39 from Sender. That scenario is quite possible, considering the average USA-dweller, very possible. Trying to convince libs that guns don't increase crime is like talking to a wall. They won't be swayed by cold, hard facts so it's impossible to turn them around.

But there are a few, just a few, who will not be fooled. Maybe that'll be enough.

[PhilDragoo]

All Animals Are Equal But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others

Sunday, June 23, 2002 10:20 p.m. EDT

Kofi Annan Probed Over Machine Gun-Toting Bodyguards

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan over reports that his bodyguards carry illegal submachine guns to protect the number one diplomat.

"Sources in the U.N. Security and Safety Service say that members of Annan's personal protective detail have been using the German-made MP5 submachine guns since 1998," reports the National Rifle Association's "America's 1st Freedom" magazine.

While U.N. officials say the extraordinarily lethal firearms have been cleared with U.S. law enforcement, a spokesman for the BATF's parent agency, the Treasury Department, told the Washington Times earlier this year that Annan's machine gunners have been under investigation since February.

The State Department also has a problem with the illegal Annan arsenal, with a spokesman telling the Times that the U.N. is not a law enforcement agency and therefore its employees are prohibited from packing such high-powered heat.

The U.N. first approached the State Department four years ago hoping to get clearance for the plan to arm Annan's security detail to the teeth - but they were turned down.

But that didn't stop Kofi and Co., who reportedly went ahead and acquired the illegal assault weapons anyway.

"Just how Annan's security detail obtained the guns is the focus of the U.S. government probe," the NRA said.

New York City, where Annan is based, supposedly has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country.

[ExSoldier]

AhHA! The MP5 pictured is the NAVAL version since that was the one with the safety on the left side....I think. At least the barrel is pointing in EXACTLY the correct direction.

[ninenot]

Sad to say--it will take a the martyrdom of a few "good men," known to be good and true, and killed for it, before the reality begins to dawn.

But get the hell out of the way when it DOES dawn. We will need all the retired officer corps we can get to organize the resistance...

[AdamSelene235]

Remind why Republican Congressmen voted 2 to 1 to remain in the United Nations?

[ohmage]

Remind why Republican Congressmen voted 2 to 1 to remain in the United Nations?

Because with the US Constitution, which most of them aparently abandoned, God gives man freedom, man grants government power.

The UN charter model is government grants man rights.

Or UNgrants them.

[donmeaker]

Thuclydies I think wrote at length about 300 spartans.

They even made a movie.

Upon being told that the persians arrows would block the son:

"Good, then we will fight in the shade!"

[donmeaker]

300 spartans is the movie.

[ExSoldier]

Here is the ORIGINAL LINK to this LETTER...read all the threads, if you want a chill to run down your spine! Music seems to have gone away over the years...sorry...

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a366caef92edb.htm

[ExSoldier]

Here is the ORIGINAL LINK to this LETTER...read all the threads, if you want a chill to run down your spine! Music seems to have gone away over the years...sorry...

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a366caef92edb.htm

[Travis McGee]

That's a big theme in my book, former SFer's who believe in "D.O.L" and defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

[ExSoldier]

Bookmark