Arms Trade Treaty Could Make Guns as Scarce as Ammo

Contrary to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) contention that the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) “is consistent with the Second Amendment” and “would not require new domestic regulations” to hamper the exercise of the rights therein, the reality is that if ratified, the ATT could make guns as scarce as ammo and the exercise of the Second Amendment difficult indeed.

And here’s how this would happen–the ATT contains ambiguities regarding the application of new firearm regulations and import restrictions. And this means the moment the ATT goes into effect–should it be ratified–the types of guns allowed to enter America would largely depend on each U.S. Presidential administration’s opinion of what is or isn’t appropriate.

In this way, the ATT actually hands the executive branch the power to work with other governments around world to shut down portions of the U.S. import firearms market as they see fit. This will be possible by seizing on ambiguous terms and phrases within the ATT–from claiming certain classes of gun are “inappropriate” to claiming others endanger “women and children“–then barring whole groups of firearms from import.   

And since firearm imports make up 35% of the overall new firearm market in America, a significant cut here could lead to an all-out frenzy on the part of consumers.

Americans like the Second Amendment because phrases like “the right to keep and bear arms” and “shall not be infringed” are not ambiguous. Rather, the amendment clearly bolsters what Americans already know in their consciences–that we have a natural, God-given right to keep and bear arms. It’s a right which the Founding Fathers did their utmost to protect.