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Dr. Boozman's Check-up

In advance of the Obama Administration’s continued efforts to reverse the policies of the last two administrations and engage in a new round of negotiations of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), a concurrent resolution was introduced in the Senate that outlines specific criteria that must be met in order for the Senate to ratify and recognize it as customary international law. 

The intended goal of the ATT is regulating global trade in conventional weapons, but this is a direct attack on our Second Amendment rights. I am vehemently opposed to the U.S. signing any UN Treaty that would regulate small arms. I believe this is a backdoor effort to chip away at every law abiding citizen's right to keep and bear arms. That’s why I cosponsored the concurrent resolution introduced today by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). 

We need to exempt domestic, civilian firearm ownership and use from the treaty’s scope, as it is governed by national laws and constitutions. 

This is not a new issue. Last July, the U.N. Conference on the ATT dissolved without consensus treaty text thanks in part to the efforts of my colleagues and I who expressed our intent to oppose ratification of any treaty that infringes upon our Second Amendment rights and freedoms as Americans. Unfortunately, the day after President Obama’s reelection, his administration announced its intent to reengage in treaty negotiations which will begin Monday. 

If the Obama Administration does sign the U.S. as a party to the treaty, it would have to be ratified by 2/3 of the U.S. Senate. It would not get my vote and I believe that this support does not exist amongst my colleagues. 

I believe in upholding our Constitution and will continue to represent the values we, as Arkansans, hold dear.