Subject: UN MEETING RESULTS ! (Gun Control) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 21:24:21 -0400
From: globallaw@tidalwave.net
Hi gang !
I just returned from Argentina late last night and my report 1 # is ready to go ! Report 2 # will be ready for circulation in a few days. Please feel free to contact me for further clarification on this report. Donna Ferolie
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September 6, 1998
Report on the meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee on the elaboration of the comprehensive international convention against organized crime (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Why should gun owners concern themselves with the United Nations? After all, what jurisdiction do the U.N bureaucrats have for sticking their noses into the Canadian, U.S.A, Brazil etc ....debate ? To answer this question one has to ask themselves another question: why is Canada and the U.S congress passing one bill after another to disarm, one step at a time, the civilian populations of their countries ? The United Nations has made it abundantly clear that it is serious about disarming American civilians (as well as other countries around the world. Involvement by the United Nations is actually quite convenient as long as voters do not object. Here is an example of a statement released by the UN on December 22, 1995. The UN announced the launch of a study of small arms.
According to the UN, small arms "are increasingly associated with crime, accidents and suicides, and form a major source of illicit profits for transnational criminal networks.... while trade in major weapons is on the decline, small arms is spreading".
The worldwide survey of firearms ownership is being financed by the Japanese government. The Canadian government is supplying a number of gun-control bureaucrats to assist in the UN project.
In other words the Canadian government as well as other member states are trying to come through the back door in order to ram further restrictive gun control legislation down the throats of the international firearm community. Our own government is hiding behind the United Nations to carry out the civilian disarmament they did not think they could get away with by themselves. With the end of the cold war, the United Nations has shifted it focus to gun control and fighting drugs as a way of continuing to justify its existence.
According to my conversation with the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (which is a neutral body within the U.N), many government delegates are very aware of the fact that any new international legislation will do absolutely nothing to fight crime, because it is the governments themselves who are responsible for the spread of military firearms. Governments including the U.S order large quantities of firearms with the same serial number for training purposes.
When civil unrest arises in other countries these firearms are sold. The natural sequence of events leads to the trickling down of such firearms to the civilian populations. Governments are aware of this fact, but the hidden agenda is to control the civilian populations by targeting all small firearms.
ATTENDANCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS MEETING IN BUENOS AIRES
Fifty representative states with 155 delegates were present at the UN international convention concerning organized crime. This was a larger turn out than expected. Sadly enough there were only three pro-firearm organizations in attendance; they were the NRA, Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and myself (from Canada).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BUENOS AIRES MEETING
The United States of America delegation proposed a recommendation for future confidentiality thus not permitting NGO's to participate. The chairman of the meeting allowed Tom Mason from the NRA to respond to this. Mr. Mason strongly encouraged the entire delegation to allow future NGO involvement considering that the United Nations is moving in the direction of greater transparency. This motion was supported by the chairman of the committee. This was a major feat considering the recommendation, if carried, would have blocked any future involvement.
The Canadian delegation was shocked at my presence and as the days worn on they tried to distance themselves. On the third day I was asked where my NRA friend was seated, and there seemed to be an issue around me taking another delegates seat. I had the opportunity to inform the majority of delegates that the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department would not approve my attendance at these meetings. Moreover, I had the opportunity to lobby many delegates while at this convention. I gathered information on their regional gun control legislation as well as what they were proposing internationally.
Some of these conversations transpired during working hours and some were after hours. For instance, lunch with a Japanese delegate and supper with three delegates from Lebanon. I hope the Japanese delegation appreciated my photos which were taken at this years Grand American Trap Shoot in Ohio; they had no idea of the extenr of such clay target shooting! Other lobbying efforts were made to such member states as Brazil, South Africa, Netherlands, Finland, Argentina, Australia and Poland. According to the NRA our presence alone plays a vital role which can not be underestimated. In my opinion it was as though our physical presence served as a constant reminder of millions of sports shooters from around the world.
In the last year I have been communicating with many countries from around the world that feel no different than we do. They are frightened by what they see coming down the pipe at the U.N. level. Attending this meeting allowed me the opportunity to speak on their behalf to their state delegates.
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia ( S.S.A.A ) made a submission to the committee to work with them throughout the process. To draw upon their expertise and warned that the high costs associated with registration would only serve to drive people out of the system and into the black market. The S.S.A.A would draw upon the expertise of gun collectors in order to establish a better tracing system. Keith Tidwell, National Executive Director feels that it is better that we offer something to the committee in order to ensure future cooperation at these meetings.
CANADIAN DISCUSSION PAPER
The two Canadian delegates present at this meeting were; Keith M. Morrill, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Jamie Deacon, Director Anti-Organized Crime, Department of Solicitor General of Canada.
It was quite interesting that the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department was ready to submit their discussion paper concerning firearms at this meeting. It further reveals the Liberal government's unwavering determination. A copy of the Canadian Discussion Paper CICP/CON/WP will be submitted in its entirety within the next few days.
After reviewing the Canadian discussion paper concerning firearms, I had the opportunity to query Mr. Morrill. I asked him if he was responsible for writing the paper which he vehemently denied. Nevertheless I continued to lambaste him with question upon question. For example, I asked him to respond to the statement, "Agreement will be needed on which firearms are to be the target of the protocol ie: those proven to be of criminal interest." What the heck does this mean? What firearms are of interest to criminals? Does this encompass any repeating firearm? There was no explanation provided - simply a shoulder shrug.
Another statement from the paper was, "Canada also works closely with industry, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties in this area. Oh REALLY? What industry did Canada consult? What non-governmental organizations were involved? Wendy Coukier and her coalition? Again, Mr. Morrill was unable to respond. Will this universal registry system price us out of existence? Mr. Morrill did say that his government relays very little on NGO's feedback considering they have all figures and facts at their finger tips. He also went on to say that "the Canadian government knows what is best for Canada." My response was "POOR CANADA!"
I also reminded the distingushed delegate that if his government relys on government statisitics they must get very confused considering that Statistics Canada reports on firearms and offences do not correspond with the Justice Statistics and their statistics do not jive with the RCMP statistics.
Other notes form the Canadian discussion paper included the following:
- States should adopt effective methods of firearms identification and tracing.
- States must improve cooperation and exchange of information and data for law enforcement purposes.
- States must pursue greater international cooperation through mutual assistance regimes in prosecution relating to the illicit trafficking of and manufacturing of firearms, their parts and components and ammunition.
Mr. Morrill also indicated that his government is not likely to alter from its course and the ONLY way to change their mission is by turfing the Liberals at the next election. Needless to say, I will be communicating with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department within the week. It was confirmed by other delegates that Canada is most definitely leading the firearms control brigade!
The Switzerland delegation submitted a paper which requested the need for global firearm registration. They also focused on three techniques for marking weapons, ie: Laser marking within the material, stamp marking or raws and marking of colours or synthetics with glass bubbles.
The U.K and Northern Ireland submitted a paper which emphasized the marking of firearms for the purpose of commercial sale within the importing country or permanent private importation, so that the source of the firearms can be traced. They encourage the need for a universal registry system. They encourage the adoption of appropriate measures to prevent the reactivation of deactivated firearms, when such reactivation is a crime under state's domestic laws. They are encouraging support and cooperation of manufactures, dealers, importers, exporters and commercial carriers of firearms to prevent and detect the foregoing illegal activities.
A copy of the Canadian and UK proposal as well as Mexico, Switzerland and Africa's responses is forthcoming.
GOALS: To work closely with the NRA, and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia in order to be a voice for millions of firearm enthusiasts around the world. Our continual presence will help balance the tables of justice so that both sides are equally presented at these UN workshops.
OBJECTIVES:
- To follow up with the various delegates within the next two weeks. This will further open the doors of communication but it will also foster relationship building and in turn this will encourage future reciprocal sharing of information.
- Share results of the U.N meetings with the firearm community around the world. Otherwise the doors will remain closed to the general public. Remember these United Nations meetings are forumulating public policy so it is vitally important that we are aware of their proposals.
This was a prepatory meeting for what is to come in future. Basically the delegation banged up there frame work and now they must fill it in. Many meetings are scheduled for the next two years; all can not be attended, but some kind of visable presence must be maintained. It is the goal of this committee to have all recommendations implemented by the year 2,000.
Please feel free to share this information with various web sites, news groups and your local media.
Additional information regarding this meeting's discussions and recommendations and the U.N initiative for global disarmament is forthcoming.
Donna Ferolie
3043-20th Side Rd
Hilton Beach, Ontario
Canada POR 1GO
