Is U.S. Trying To Gut Arms Treaty?

I got this from Amnesty International:

 http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.8629655/k.57B1/Call_the_White_House/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=8629655&msource=W1303EHATT1


Dear Tracy,

Late on Friday, the latest draft of the Arms Trade Treaty was shared publicly. It's not looking good.

Place an urgent call to the White House to ensure that key human rights protections are kept in the Arms Trade Treaty: 202-456-1111

Here's what it boils down to: Will world leaders take the necessary steps now to prevent sending weapons to countries where they will likely be used for torture, summary executions, and other human rights abuses? Or will they allow business as usual and wait until even more staggering numbers of civilians are killed before they finally decide to stop arms shipments to those who are targeting civilians?

The second option is called the "body bag" approach. The US government is among those who actually think this is a good idea. It wants to allow critical human rights protections to be kept out of the treaty. These would require countries to exercise some due diligence in making sure they aren't transferring weapons to places where they know they'll be used in extrajudicial executions, disappearances, or torture -- think of it as a global "background check" for arms transfers.

We need you to pick up the phone now -- and we mean right now. We've only got until Wednesday before the treaty will be finalized. Your phone call to the White House is the best way to express the urgency and importance of this message:

President Obama: we need a strong -- and preventative -- Arms Trade Treaty!

Here's the number again: 202-456-1111

REMEMBER: To call, you don't have to be an Arms Trade Treaty expert. You just have to care about protecting people worldwide against gun violence. And be sure to tell us how your call went, so that we can follow up.

You may recall that last year, the US backed out of Arms Trade Treaty negotiations at the last minute. In the time that has passed since, nearly half a million men, women and children have lost their lives to gun violence. We can't let the US or any other country stand in the way of a strong Arms Trade Treaty again. Too many lives are at risk.

We need the US to fight for a bullet-proof Arms Trade Treaty. Please, every action counts -- pick up the phone, send a message online or add your name to our petition on Twitter.

Thank You,

Nate Smith
Military, Security and Police Transfers Coordination Group, Chairperson
Amnesty International USA