SMALL ARMS CONTROL


RHYTHM N' RIGHTS
Combine campaign with Amnesty International, iansa and Oxfam

Received the below letter from Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, dated 30 June 2005

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I apologie for the delay in my respnse. I value the correspondence I get from people back home in Wisconsin, and I would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.

As you know, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, primarily through the illicit trafficking, has fuled civil conflicts in many developing nations. The ready availability of these arms has allowed many rebel groups, most notable in Afraica, to wage horrific campaigns of violence against legitimate governments and their civilian populations. Moreover, these weapons have spread particularly quickly in the developing world as they are relatively inexpensive, more easily concealed, and require minimal maintenance and training to operate.

In July of 2001, U.S. negotiators participated in the United Nation's Conference on the Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons. Respresentatives from over 140 nations, including the United States, reached agreement on a voluntary accord to stem the illegal flow of milliions of small arms to the world's conflict zones. The 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Samll Arms and Light Weapons calls on governments to establish methods to document the sale of small arms, provide a method of marking a weapon's origin, and criminalize their illegal production, possession, stockpiling and trade. U.S. negotiators signed the accord only after provisions the Administration contended would infringe on the right of U.S. citizens to keep and bear arms were dropped.

During the United Nations Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) on Small Arms in July 2003, the first major follow-up to the UN Small Arms Conference in 2001, 139 states met to determine the progress nations have made towards achieving the goals of the Programme of Action. Member states will meet again in July for the BMS on Small Arms to continue evaluating the progress made on global action on the small arms issue, and to identify in concrete terms what has already been achieved, and what still needs to be done to fully implement the Programme of Action.

As a major exporter of small arms and light weapons, the United States has an obligation to lead the international community in developing and enforcing export licensing and monitoring standards. Should legislation concerning proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons come before me in the full Senate, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate knowing your thoughts on this issue.

Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
United States Senator