The Hill is reporting that the U.S. Senate voted on and passed an amendment to the budget bill that would keep the U.S. from signing onto the UN arms trade treaty. Many have been concerned that the treaty, which does not differentiate between military and civilian firearms, would be used as a back door to enact sweeping gun control regulations in the United States. With the passage of this amendment (by a vote of 53 – 46) it signifies that ratifying such a treaty would be impossible with the current Senate. A Democrat also offered an amendment that clarifies that the U.S. constitution trumps all treaties, which was passed as well.