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July 27, 2012

Arms Treaty Talks Continue at U.N. Before Deadline 
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World countries face a deadline of today to finalize the text of a
treaty that would mark the first-ever global agreement regulating the
arms trade. On Thursday, hopes were raised that a deal is near after a
new draft was leaked closing a number of loopholes. But the outcome of
the talks remains as uncertain as countries, including the United
States, have demanded a number of exemptions. The United States is by
far the world’s largest producer, importer and exporter of armaments.
Opponents including the U.S.-based National Rifle Association have
lobbied against the treaty, and a bipartisan group of 51 U.S. senators
have signed on to a pledge vowing to oppose it should it usher in tough
regulation. In a protest outside the United Nations in New York City,
activists set up a mock graveyard to symbolize the victims of gun
violence worldwide. Verity Coyle of Amnesty International and David
Grimason, who lost his son to a shooting attack took part.

Verity Cole: "One person every minute is killed by arms. I've met lots
of the families of people who have suffered that terrible loss. As you
can see behind us, thousands of people die every day. This is a reality
that could be changed."

David Grimason: "A treaty that doesn't include all conventional weapons
and all ammunition to me will just be pointless. At the moment, you've
got kind of unscrupulous governments that are willing to sell arms to
any nation, not really caring about how they are going to be used."

 

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