Draft Arms Trade Treaty Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2012
Contact – Rachel Johnson,

Draft Arms Trade Treaty Released:
Faith & Military Leaders Optimistic

Washington, DC – The first draft of text for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) emerged from the United Nations Tuesday, following nearly a month of negotiations.  Echoing the sentiments of U.S. military and faith leaders, the American Values Network (AVN) praised the draft for the significant impact it would have on preventing global violence and protecting our national security.  AVN encouraged the Obama Administration to take strong role in working toward international consensus before the July 27 deadline when the treaty will be voted on.

“With a few minor technical tweaks, this draft treaty text presents the U.S. with an incredible opportunity to help safeguard our troops and innocents around the globe,” said Eric Sapp, Executive Director of the American Values Network.  “The draft makes clear that the ATT poses no threat to 2nd Amendment rights, but it will close loopholes in international law al Qaeda and dictators committing atrocities are using to arm themselves.”

AVN is sending emails this week to over 10 million evangelicals and Catholics voters highlighting support for the ATT from faith and military leaders and putting to rest unfounded 2nd Amendment concerns.  These emails come on the heels of major op-eds by the spokesperson for the National Association of Evangelicals, the President of the National Council of Churches, and prominent military leaders published in Newsday, the Christian Post, The Hill, and the Washington Post.

“Drug cartels in Mexico, insurgent fighters in Afghanistan, warlords in Sudan, and pirates in Somalia all thrive off of the lax global regulation of weapons and ammunition sales,” said Admiral Stuart Platt (Ret.). “The ATT gives us an opportunity to clamp down and stop this spread of terror and violence.”

For more than a year, AVN has worked with prominent faith and military leaders to call for a strong Arms Trade Treaty on the ground that it will promote national security and help prevent humanitarian atrocities.  Religious communities from across the ideological spectrum, including the World Evangelical Alliance, the Vatican, National Association of Evangelicals, and National Council of Churches have all publicly supported the treaty.