Obama to Push for Treaty on Arms Trafficking

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2009 3:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama wants to add muscle to America’s promise to curb the flow of weapons to Mexico’s drug cartels. After meeting with Mexican leader Felipe Calderon today, Obama said he would push the Senate to ratify a decade-old treaty on the matter, the Washington Post reports. President Clinton signed the pact, negotiated by the Organization of American States to cut down on arms smuggling throughout the hemisphere, but it’s languished in Congress since 1997.

“The president felt it was important to push now for the ratification of the treaty because the question of illegal arms trafficking is of great concern,” a senior official told the New York Times. The treaty calls for nations to take concrete steps, including the adoption of stricter licensing rules. Gun-rights advocates don’t oppose the measure, because its wording does not impinge on the 2nd Amendment, the Post notes.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

Customs and Border Protection officers stand by guns confiscated along the US-Mexico border. (AP Photo)

President waves as he walks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

An arsenal that includes an anti air-craft machine gun, the first weapon of its kind seized in Mexico, is displayed to the media at a police base in Mexico City Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this 2008 file photo a soldier stands guard during the presentation in Mexico City of arms from a drug cartel. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I will not pretend this is Mexico's responsibility alone. We have a responsibility as well, we have to do our part.
- President Obama, referring to drug violence in Mexico

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Obama Moves to Halt 'River' of Guns, Drugs to Mexico

Adds top cartels to 'drug kingpin' list

(NEWSER) - On the eve of an important meeting with Mexico’s president, President Obama yesterday imposed sanctions against the top Mexican drug cartels in a move intended to slow cross-border drugs and weapons trafficking, the Washington Post reports. After speeding up a process that normally takes a year, he added three cartels to the list of banned foreign “drug kingpins,” meaning the US can seize their assets and prosecute American companies or individuals that deal with them. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website