This guy just won't stop

Obama Pushing Treaty To Ban Reloading

Gun Owners of America
April 25, 2009

Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama?  The guy who “wasn’t going to take away our guns”?
Well, guess what?
Less than 100 days into his administration, he’s never met a gun he didn’t hate. 
A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn’t have the political power to take away our semi-automatics.  Nevertheless, that didn’t keep him from pushing additional restrictions on American gun owners.
It’s called the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.  To be sure, this imponderable title masks a really nasty piece of work.
First of all, when the treaty purports to ban the “illicit” manufacture of firearms, what does that mean?
1. “Illicit manufacturing” of firearms is defined as “assembly of firearms [or] ammunition … without a license….” 
Hence, reloading ammunition — or putting together a lawful firearm from a kit — is clearly “illicit manufacturing.” 
Modifying a firearm in any way would surely be “illicit manufacturing.”  And, while it would be a stretch, assembling a firearm after cleaning it could, in any plain reading of the words, come within the screwy definition of “illicit manufacturing.” 
2. “Firearm” has a similarly questionable definition. 
“[A]ny other weapon” is a “firearm,” according to the treaty — and the term “weapon” is nowhere defined. 
So, is a BB gun a “firearm”?  Probably. 
A toy gun?  Possibly. 
A pistol grip or firing pin?  Probably.  And who knows what else.  
If these provisions (and others) become the law of the land, the Obama administration could have a heyday in enforcing them.  Consider some of the other provisions in the treaty:
* Banning reloading. In Article IV of the treaty, countries commit to adopting “necessary legislative or other measures” to criminalize illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms. 
Remember that “illicit manufacturing” includes reloading and modifying or assembling a firearm in any way.  This would mean that the Obama administration could promulgate regulations banning reloading on the basis of this treaty — just as it is currently circumventing Congress to write legislation taxing greenhouse gases.
* Banning gun clubs. Article IV goes on to state that the criminalized acts should include “association or conspiracy” in connection with said offenses — which is arguably a term broad enough to allow, by regulation, the criminalization of entire pro-gun organizations or gun clubs, based on the facilities which they provide their membership.