PrisonPlanet talks about a UN gun ban... again

[swskeptic]

First off, is it just me or does this same type of theme pop up every couple months or so in the conspiracy theorist circle? Anyways, on to business.

I was checking out PrisonPlanet and Infowars today as I often do, looking for in-accurate and interesting articles. I come across this one titled "Obama Pushes Bill That Would Mandate Global Tax (http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2008/021408_global_tax.htm)" with the sub-headline "Senate to vote on legislation that would cost U.S. $845 billion, also enables UN to implement gun bans"

The UN gun ban part got me interested. So, I looked this "Global Poverty Act" up on govtrack.us (a great resource for skeptics!) and I found S. 2433, which is what the article it's referencing.

I couldn't find anything explicitly referencing banning guns in the act itself, so I did a little more digging and found out that the "United Nations Millennium Declaration" is what mentions the ban... sort of. This is what it said:

"To take concerted action to end illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons,
especially by making arms transfers more transparent and supporting regional
disarmament measures, taking account of all the recommendations of the
forthcoming United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and
Light Weapons"

That phrase "regional disarmament measures" does make me wonder exactly what it means. More or less, I think they are talking about trying to get rid of the kinds of people shown here at about 1:10:
UNUKptyKdMM

I don't know about you, but I see no harm in doing that.

While your here, if you actually read this entire post and watched that short clip, maybe you can answer a question for me. Who here likes to do the research and debunk things like this for themselves? I know a lot of you are really busy, but I find it a lot of fun :) I especially like getting into laws and things like that. Maybe I should be a lawyer ;) My grandmother has told me that for a few years now... but anyways, I'm done. Hope we can have a good discussion over this!

Best regards,
CJ


P.S.
Here is a link to S. 2433 if you would like to keep up with it: S. 2433 on GovTrack (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2433)


UPDATE: A Yahoo news article regarding Obama was just put up around an hour ago titled "Obama supports individual gun rights (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_el_pr/obama)". There goes any future or current argument that he was for banning guns.

[Architect]

What is it about right case nutjob Americans and their fixation with the kind of weaponry that's illegal in the rest of the Western world?!?!?!

[Drudgewire]

What is it about right case nutjob Americans and their fixation with the kind of weaponry that's illegal in the rest of the Western world?!?!?!
I can only speak for this right case nutjob American with more than five firearms, but they make loud explody noises and look cool. :cool:

[BenBurch]

I can only speak for this right case nutjob American with more than five firearms, but they make loud explody noises and look cool. :cool:

I like explosives too. Ever play with Tannerite?

[JWideman]

You know, liberals can be gun nuts too. Go to a range and take a class or two.

[dudalb]

Like the UN has the power to enforce anything.
What cracks me up is the Conspiracy freaks portray the UN as Some Huge Evil Monster, when in fact is a badly run,incredibly inefficent organization with not a very good recore even when it comes to peacekeeping.

[Drudgewire]

You know, liberals can be gun nuts too. Go to a range and take a class or two.
Two of my three shooting buddies are as liberal as the day is long, and their collections put mine to shame. :)

[BenBurch]

Two of my three shooting buddies are as liberal as the day is long, and their collections put mine to shame. :)

Well, I put nobody's arsenal to shame, but I do love guns. Been shooting since I was 8.

[BenBurch]

Observe;

MZpucuRa39I

[Drudgewire]

I love tannerite. Shame it's probably not going to be legal much longer. :(

[WildCat]

Uh, "small arms" includes rocket propelled grenades and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light machine guns. Light arms includes mortars, portable rocket-launch systems and the like.

The UN is concerned about trafficking in military-grade weapons, not your .30/06 or Glock.

More paranoid nonsense from prisonplanet.

[sinclairmcevoy]

What is it about right case nutjob Americans and their fixation with the kind of weaponry that's illegal in the rest of the Western world?!?!?!
It's like this. We (America) have these things and have proven time and again how dangerous they can be. If you (other countries) were to have these items, you might end up hurting yourselves or your neighbors. You wouldn't want that to happen would you? You wouldn't want us to have to hurt you for not listening, would you? You'll probably get hurt either way, so it's just better if you don't have them in the first place. See how that makes sense?

[fuelair]

You know, liberals can be gun nuts too. Go to a range and take a class or two.I certainly am (liberal and gunner).

[UserGoogol]

The bill itself seems sort of interesting in how vague and benign it is. Essentially, it seems to say "The president (and Secretary of State and whatever) will construct a strategy to reduce global poverty by 2015 will release reports on what happens every couple years" and gives some vague guidelines to what such a strategy should entail. As was said in the OP, it doesn't mention weapons, nor does it grant the president with any new powers.

(And yeah, even though I've only been around guns when they have been on cops and have a rather negative view of the morality of self-defense, I also think that guns are probably a pretty neat hobby to have at least if you're just going to shoot targets.)

[swskeptic]

Uh, "small arms" includes rocket propelled grenades and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light machine guns. Light arms includes mortars, portable rocket-launch systems and the like.

The UN is concerned about trafficking in military-grade weapons, not your .30/06 or Glock.


Alright, I found an official Q&A on this exact subject here: UN FAQ (http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/faq.html)

Here is the definition for "small arms" they supply:
“Small arms” are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for individual use. They include, inter alia, revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns.


Meaning, yes, it does include guns such as the Glock and .30/06, but only in illicit trade, and clarified here:
* Does the Programme of Action aim to curb the legal trade in small arms and light weapons?

No. The PoA outlines measures to help curb and eliminate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. It is the prerogative of each State to legislate the rights of its citizens to bear arms.

[WildCat]

Alright, I found an official Q&A on this exact subject here: UN FAQ (http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/faq.html)

Here is the definition for "small arms" they supply:
Generally, it's any weapon that one man can transport and fire.

Meaning, yes, it does include guns such as the Glock and .30/06, but only in illicit trade, and clarified here:
Yes, that's what I meant. The UN is not concerned about the arms people in the US are able to legally acquire and use.

[swskeptic]

Yes, that's what I meant. The UN is not concerned about the arms people in the US are able to legally acquire and use.

Then why did the original article mention it? Geez, I'm so glad I got out of the Conspiracy Theorist train of thought. Conspiracy Theorists are so damn paranoid.