Possible ban on reloading??????
 

Obama Pushing Treaty To Ban Reloading
-- Even BB guns could be on the chopping block

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Tuesday, April 21, 2009


Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama? The guy who "wasn't going to take away
our guns"?

Well, guess what?

Less than 100 days into his administration, he's never met a gun he
didn't hate.

A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and
bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn't have the
political power to take away our semi-automatics. Nevertheless, that
didn't keep him from pushing additional restrictions on American gun
owners.

It's called the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing
of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other
Related Materials. To be sure, this imponderable title masks a really
nasty piece of work.

First of all, when the treaty purports to ban the "illicit"
manufacture
of firearms, what does that mean?

1. "Illicit manufacturing" of firearms is defined as
"assembly of
firearms [or] ammunition... without a license...."

Hence, reloading ammunition -- or putting together a lawful firearm from
a kit -- is clearly "illicit manufacturing."

Modifying a firearm in any way would surely be "illicit
manufacturing."
And, while it would be a stretch, assembling a firearm after cleaning it
could, in any plain reading of the words, come within the screwy
definition of "illicit manufacturing."

2. "Firearm" has a similarly questionable definition.

"[A]ny other weapon" is a "firearm," according to
the treaty -- and the
term "weapon" is nowhere defined.

So, is a BB gun a "firearm"? Probably.

A toy gun? Possibly.

A pistol grip or firing pin? Probably. And who knows what else.

If these provisions (and others) become the law of the land, the Obama
administration could have a heyday in enforcing them. Consider some of
the other provisions in the treaty:

* Banning Reloading. In Article IV of the treaty, countries commit to
adopting "necessary legislative or other measures" to criminalize
illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.

Remember that "illicit manufacturing" includes reloading and
modifying
or assembling a firearm in any way. This would mean that the Obama
administration could promulgate regulations banning reloading on the
basis of this treaty -- just as it is currently circumventing Congress
to write legislation taxing greenhouse gases.

* Banning Gun Clubs. Article IV goes on to state that the criminalized
acts should include "association or conspiracy" in connection
with said
offenses -- which is arguably a term broad enough to allow, by
regulation, the criminalization of entire pro-gun organizations or gun
clubs, based on the facilities which they provide their membership.

* Extraditing US Gun Dealers. Article V requires each party to "adopt
such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the
offenses it has established in accordance with this Convention" under a
variety of circumstances.

We know that Mexico is blaming U.S. gun dealers for the fact that its
streets are flowing with blood. And we know it is possible for Mexico
to define offenses "committed in its territory" in a very
broad way.
And we know that we have an extradition obligation under Article XIX of
the proposed treaty. So we know that Mexico could try to use the treaty
to demand to extradition of American gun dealers.

Under Article XXIX, if Mexico demands the extradition of a lawful
American gun dealer, the U.S. would be required to resolve the dispute
through "other means of peaceful settlement."

Does anyone want to risk twenty years in a sweltering Mexican jail on
the proposition that the Obama administration would apply this provision
in a pro-gun manner?

* Microstamping. Article VI requires "appropriate markings" on
firearms. And, it is not inconceivable that this provision could be
used to require microstamping of firearms and/or ammunition -- a
requirement which is clearly intended to impose specifications which are
not technologically possible or which are possible only at a
prohibitively expensive cost.

* Gun Registration. Article XI requires the maintenance of any records,
for a "reasonable time," that the government determines to be
necessary
to trace firearms. This provision would almost certainly repeal
portions of McClure-Volkmer and could arguably be used to require a
national registry or database.

ACTION: Write your Senators and urge them to oppose the Inter-American
Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.

Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the
pre-written e-mail message below

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

As an Endowment member of the NRA and a Life Member of GOA I heartily agree. The mindset of our new administration is totally anti-gun. I DO believe, however, that America's gun owners have finally had enough of letting their representatives speak not for them, but for the Party platform. Even Nancy Pelosi seems to be smart enough to realize this fact, and knows which way the wind is blowing. If Mexico is having a problem with illegal firearms being smuggled into their country, it seems to me that it is THEIR responsibility to stop it. How in the world can they justify (our Government) disarming the law-abiding citizens of this country simply because a neighboring country can't effectively enforce their own laws?? If our government wants to aid in the cause, fine and well. But in no way should you or I have to suffer our ownership rights as guaranteed by the Second Ammendment due to someone else's inability to control their own people.
Common sense has taken a backseat lately as far as what is right and what is wrong. I harp repeatedly that we, the gun owners of this great country will most assuredly lose our rights if we don't speak up loudly and often. Let your Legislators know we are sick and tired of being trampled under with rediculous legislation that harms nobody but the law-abiding gun owner. Let them know in no uncertain terms that we have had enough, and will be watching closely as how they vote on anti-gun legislation. This has become YOUR fight. Do something about it. If you don't, blame nobody but yourself for the possible outcome........... Things are getting serious......

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

This will die on the floor & never pass.

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

I hope you are correct. But e-mails, phone calls and written letters of protest to your legislators will only help ensure it's demise.

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

I agree Pawildman! GOA is great, it cost 0 dollars to sign up for their e-mail alerts. With a few clicks, you can send a pre-written e-mail to your senators and or congressmen and let them know where you stand. It works as well, my senators usually reply back. When funds arent so tight, the GOA will get my membership over any other group out there. Just because you vote for or didnt vote a certain politician, doesnt mean you should just sit back see how things pan out. Every gun owner should step up and place a phone call, an e-mail, or a snail mail to their elected officials and tell them your stance on the second amendment!

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

How many gang bagers are sitting infront of their re-loading press right now reloading their drive-by ammo? None. Whycant the anti gun folks understand that restrictions and bans on guns and ammo only affects the law obiding citizens. All the criminals will still have guns and ammo and we will be defencless if they had their way. By the way, I know this is not the BP forum but you can make your own BP and cast your own lead bullets. You dont have to register a ML. I pay cash for everything. No paper trail. Just cuz I am paranoid does NOT mean everybody is NOT out to get me! :)

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

I am not convinced Obama can do much! He can't even handle Hugo Chavez! Whycant the anti gun folks understand that restrictions and bans on guns and ammo only affects the law obiding citizens.

It's not that they can't. They don't want to! It's easy to moan & groan, but difficult to find real solutions. Politicinas always seek the path of least resistance. They will NOT stop me from handloading!!

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

Me either. I roll my own and have a smoke pole as well. And, will continue to do so. :D

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

i know 1 thing for sure "THEY CAN HAVE MY BULLETS 1ST" Heh Heh Heh. i went to the sportsmans whse the other day in phoenix and their reloading section was almost empty. i don't know if o'bama is the new sales person for them or what but it's hard to find bullets for reloadin'. o'bama or O'BUMER

RE: Possible ban on reloading??????
 

So what will you do when they make primers, brass, bullets and powder illegal? They are all necessary components of loading a cartridge, and if the act of handloading is illegal, it stands to reason that the components necessary to handload (which have no other purpose) will be illegal too. Are you ready to become a felon literally overnight? Are you going to take it one step further and buy your handloading components on the black market like the street thugs already do with their illegal guns?

The bright side is that the senate must ratify all treaties the (idiot) President makes for them to be binding as law. We can only hope that the GOP and the handful of "blue dog" dems that constitute the slim liberal majority in the senate will drag this piece-of-crap treaty out into the street and shoot it dead. Otherwise our only hope is the Supreme Court, and that could take months or years to get a case to them to be decided, all the while the legal force of the treaty will be in effect.

For all you turn-coat so-called hunters and sportsman out there who bought into this crap... have you had enough "hope and change" yet? On a positive note, it does seem like Obama is working very hard to become our next one-term president. This might be the swift kick that people need to knock them out of their zombielike "Yes we can" droning stupor. I certainly have the HOPE that in 4 years we'll CHANGE Presidents.

Mike