Dear Mr. XXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. I'm grateful for your thoughts and for the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, in October 2009, under the direction of President Obama, the U.S. voted to participate in the negotiation of United Nations Arms Trade Treaty in the United Nations General Assembly. The purpose of this treaty is to create a set of international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, and a conference will be held this year to finalize this agreement. As the process currently stands, I am concerned that the Arms Trade Treaty poses serious dangers to constitutional rights protected under our Second Amendment.
It is evident to me that certain parts of the treaty challenge our individual freedoms. One clear example is the limitation of the transfer of arms within member states. Additionally, the treaty is also designed to control the transfer of arms from non-state actors, placing the burden of controlling crime on law-abiding citizens instead of on the member states of the U.N. For these reasons, I do not support the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, and I am encouraging my colleagues to join me in protecting our constitutional rights.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, please know that I am following the development of this treaty process closely. I appreciate your opinions, and I look forward to serving the people of Florida.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator |
