WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the United Nations General Assembly’s vote on Tuesday to approve the Arms Trade Treaty:
“I applaud Tuesday’s vote by the United Nations General Assembly over the objections of Syria, Iran, and North Korea to approve a new Arms Trade Treaty to establish common national standards for international arms transfers. I also commend the U.S. negotiating team for crafting what appears to be a strong, effective and implementable treaty that would in no way infringe on the rights of American citizens under our domestic law or the Constitution to bear arms. As Secretary Kerry re-affirmed, this treaty applies only to international trade in arms and reaffirms the sovereign right of any State to regulate arms within its territory. No treaty, however, can enter into force for the United States without the Senate’s consent, and if the treaty is eventually submitted to the Senate, as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I will ensure it receives a vigorous and fair review."
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