Mike Kelly

HARRISVILLE — U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, plans to introduce legislation that would oppose a United Nations treaty that he says would interfere with the Second Amendment.

Kelly of Butler spoke Friday at Gun World about the U.S. Arms Trade Treaty, which is designed to create legally binding international arms transfer standards, and his legislation.

He said that the most dangerous part of the treaty is how little information the public knows about it.

“Not enough people know about it,” Kelly said.

He said the treaty does not specifically protect the Second Amendment, particularly the individual right to bear arms. He also said that the treaty does not limit its scope to international arms trade, which implies that the domestic arms trade is included.

“This has overreaching consequences that I don’t think we’ve ever seen,” Kelly said.

Kelly said that the treaty poses a threat to the U.S. because it could hinder the U.S.’s ability to send arms to its allies. He said that the U.S. would obey those rules but that countries who are U.S. enemies would ignore the rules.

He said that countries such as Iran and Syria will be involved in the treaty discussions.

“Why do you want these people at the table?” Kelly asked.

He said that the treaty calls for countries to keep national records on arms transfers and that it allows nations to record information on gun owners. He said the treaty implies that the best way to comply is to send records to an international body the treaty would create.

Kelly in July sent a letter, signed by 130 House members from both parties, opposing the treaty to President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Kelly authored House Resolution 814 and introduced it on November. It had 89 bipartisan co-sponsors. It was sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee but never came to a vote.

He will reintroduce the resolution in about two weeks. It now has 106 co-sponsors.

Additionally, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, plans to introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

The UN will negotiate the treaty from March 19 to 28.

“We still have an open window here,” Kelly said.

Additionally, Kelly launched a petition opposing the treaty.

“We’re getting it out,” Kelly said.

He said that he launched the petition site using his own personal funds, and is not using dollars from his campaign account or office.

The petition is at www.attpetition.com. Launched a week ago, the petition has 1,500 signatures so far.