Firearms

…This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. – U.S. Constitution, Article VI

Just when it seemed things were starting to look up in the battle between the individual State’s Constitutional rights and unchecked FEDGOD expansion, there is a new plan in the works. Congress may be a part of that great bloated machine, and it has certainly made it’s contribution towards further violations of the afore-mentioned sacred document, but it turns out they just aren’t moving fast enough for the guys upstairs.

President Obama is visiting Mexico today, during which he is continuing his push for the U.S. to ratify the Clinton-era Inter-American Arms Treaty, a treaty which is essentially a way of getting around what is left of the checks & balances of our government to establish new controls over our citizens right to keep and bear – without any sort of oversight. Of course, Mr. Obama prefers you think otherwise…

But Obama indicated that while he favors reinstating the U.S. ban on assault weapons, which Congress allowed to expire five years ago, the move would face too much political opposition to happen soon. He said better enforcing existing laws and increasing U.S. vigilance on the border to prevent arms smuggling, as his administration has begun to do, would have a more immediate effect on stopping U.S.-made weapons from reaching Mexico’s cartels.

Yes, that’s right. Mr. Obama is being patient because he knows America isn’t ready for AWB 2, or is he?

…we can’t wait for whatever happens in the congress on something as clearly controversial as an assault weapons ban reinstatement…

The truth comes out, I expect to see the blatant misuse of emergency executive powers in the near future. It isn’t clear if this was an accidental slip by our new DHS head, Its Pat, or if they are simply arrogant enough to think it doesn’t matter anymore. The fact remains, this treaty is far worse than any version of the Assault Weapons Ban ever has been.

The treaty also calls for countries to adopt strict licensing requirements, mark firearms when they are made and imported to make them easier to trace, and establish a cooperative process for sharing information between national law enforcement agencies investigating arms smuggling.

So basically without FEDGOD permission (a new federal firearms license) you would not be able to purchase or manufacture firearms. While bad, we knew that was coming soon. What the report doesn’t say is that the treaty would actually require a license for any of the following activities: purchasing or manufacturing firearms, purchasing or manufacturing (including reloading) ammunition, and purchasing or manufacturing firearm related materials (including any and all accessories).

Digging a little deeper into the treaty’s text we find the definitions are even more frightening. A firearm is defined as “any barreled weapon which will or is designed to or may be readily converted to expel a bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive…or any other weapon or destructive device.” Ammunition is considered to be “the complete round or its components, including cartridge cases, primers, propellant powder, bullets, or projectiles that are used in any firearm.” And yes, you read right, “other related materials” is defined as any component, part, or replacement part of a firearm or accessory which can be attached to a firearm!

It will be interesting to see who qualifies for this new federal firearms license, or should I say licenses (one for firearms, one for ammo, one for reloading, one for parts/accessories…). It also kind of makes you wonder about the shortages created by panic-buying of guns and ammo at a time when gun control laws, at a glance, seem to be loosening. The tinfoil hat says the timing was all part of the plan…