3 chapters across the catalog
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland discusses the failure to reach a consensus on the UN Arms Trade Treaty. While the U.S. supports the goals of the treaty, officials claim more work is needed to ensure it does not conflict with the Second Amendment. Critics argue the administration is waiting for a more favorable time to "ram" the treaty through the General Assembly.
Small Arms Regulation, Legal Definitions, Second Amendment
The debate over the UN Arms Trade Treaty shifts from the "illegal transfer" to the "illegal use" of small arms. Victoria Nuland avoids specific questions about how the treaty text might affect U.S. domestic law, citing the complexity of legal issues. The discussion centers on how "wrong hands" will be defined in an international regulatory framework.
The United Nations Small Arms Transfer Treaty, discussed in New York in July 2012, is identified as a potential beneficiary of the Aurora shooting narrative. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's support for international arms transfer controls is framed as a move toward a global registry and the eventual disarmament of private citizens. The timing of the treaty discussions relative to the shooting is highlighted as significant.
