In case you didn’t know it, the U.N. Small Arms Treaty went into effect on Christmas Eve. As we’ve been saying since the treaty emerged from the bureaucratic bowels of the United Nations, it’s nothing that should get U.S. gun owners’ collective, proverbial knickers in a twist. The treaty requires signatories to conform to small arms export protocols that America has already been following. Anyway, the U.S. Senate ain’t going there. Ever. So the treaty is dead in the water here, legally speaking. And, surprisingly, in Canada as well. Here’s what Foreign Affairs minister John Baird had to say when the peace, love, and disarmament dudes complained . . .
Signing the Arms Trade Treaty would not improve upon how we assess exports of military items. Canada already has some of the strongest export controls in the world.
The ATT actually brings countries up to our export control standards.
It is important that such a treaty should not affect lawful and responsible firearms owners nor discourage the transfer of firearms for recreational uses such as sport shooting and hunting. We’ll make sure that any treaty we sign onto is good for Canada, and good for Canadians.
That sounds suspiciously pro-gun to me. Who’d a thunk it? [h/t JA]