The Patriot Post® · 2A: Kerry Signs UN 'Arms Treaty'

Secretary of State John Kerry made our nation a signatory to the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty, ostensibly regulating small arms trade between nations.

At the signing ceremony, Kerry claimed, “Make no mistake, we would never think about supporting a treaty that is inconsistent with the rights of Americans, the rights of American citizens to be able to exercise their guaranteed rights under our Constitution. This is about keeping Americans safe and keeping America strong. This treaty will not diminish anyone’s freedom.”

Make no mistake, the ATT is a Trojan Horse.

Barack Obama and Kerry assure us that the treaty exempts any regulation of domestic gun sales and ownership in the U.S., but with the stroke of a pen, it could implement severe gun restrictions and even confiscations – an end run around the Second Amendment that would provide political cover for gun control Leftists in the Senate and House.

Indeed, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) warned that if this treaty were ratified, “Make no mistake, they will ultimately register, ban and CONFISCATE firearms owned by private citizens. Not long ago, Obama told Sarah Brady from the anti-gun Brady Campaign, ‘I just want you to know that we are working on [gun control]. We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar.’”

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) rightly put Kerry on written notice, informing him that the ATT is “dead in the water,” concluding, “The administration is wasting precious time trying to sign away our laws to the global community and unelected UN bureaucrats.”

But, in what could be an end run around our Constitution, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), fully aware that he can’t possibly win the necessary two-thirds majority of votes in the Senate for ratification, may not allow any vote at all. Thus, Obama could sign the treaty and ignore the constitutional mandate, as he habitually does when Rule of Law interferes with his political agenda.

Then what?

In a letter chastising Obama, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, demanded he not take any further action on the ATT without the consent of the Senate. Corker sternly notes, “Any act to implement this treaty, provisionally or otherwise, before the Congress provides its advice and consent would be inconsistent with the United States Constitution, law, and practice. … The Executive Branch is not authorized to take any steps to implement the treaty,” because the treaty raises “fundamental issues” concerning “individual rights protected by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

Let’s see if Obama continues his unmitigated violation of his Oath to Support and Defend our Constitution, by acting without Senate consensus…