KeepAndBearArms.com -- After Beretta was mentioned as one of the gun manufacturers engaged in backroom negotiations toward an agreement with the anti-Constitution United Nations, numerous gun owners emailed them letters of disapproval and asked to see a copy of the current version of their looming agreement.  One of our members received the following communication from Beretta yesterday:

BERETTA ANNOUNCES POSITION CONCERNING U.N. SMALL ARMS RESTRICTIONS

July 20, 2001

On July 11, 2001, the Reuters news agency published an article that some people have interpreted to mean that Beretta supports United Nations' proposals to disarm law-abiding citizens around the world. This interpretation is incorrect.

Beretta supports efforts to stop illegal trafficking in firearms worldwide. Beretta does not support attempts, whether international or in any particular country, to abridge the rights of law-abiding citizens to purchase or own small arms.

Beretta has, for many decades, individually marked with serial numbers and other identifying marks each small arm that it produces, has aided law enforcement investigations aimed at stopping illegal sales of firearms and has strictly obeyed laws concerning the international sale of military weapons.

Beretta's position on these issues is consistent with the statement Under Secretary John R. Bolton of the Bush Administration as expressed by on July 9, 2001. Beretta's position is also consistent with that of the World Forum on Shooting Sports, a respected international organization dedicated to the lawful use of legal firearms, which is composed of firearm manufacturers around the world and which is dedicated to the preservation of firearm ownership rights.

Beretta's policy of individually marking each small arm that it manufactures and of aiding law enforcement investigations reflects the requirements of U.S. law since 1968. Similar requirements exist in other countries.

None of these efforts are intended to circumvent the rights of private citizens in any nation to own or purchase small arms as allowed by local law. The right of individuals to own firearms lawfully and responsibly must be preserved as a fundamental right of all free people.

In the United States, Beretta U.S.A. Corp. is a co-founder of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Foundation, which has supported firearm safety education programs and has supported legal defense of the firearm industry in the United States since 1998. The Beretta group of companies also recently donated $1 million to the National Rifle Association Foundation in recognition of that organization's protection of private firearm ownership rights in the United States.

This is all well and good. However, there remain some unanswered questions that deserve answering:

1) For what reason, specifically, has Beretta (and Ruger, Glock and others) been negotiating toward agreements with the anti-Constitution United Nations?

2) What are the terms of the agreement being negotiated?

3) Can we see the agreement?  If so, can we see it BEFORE it is signed?

4) That Beretta's position is "consistent with that of the World Forum on Shooting Sports" is nice. Where does Beretta stand on all of the following:

A)  government intrusion into private transfers between neighbors at a gun show
B)  the so-called "Assault Weapons" ban, and getting rid of it
C)  mandatory gun storage laws that make it easier for criminals to invade the homes of gun owners
D)  the registration and/or licensing of lawful, decent gunowners and/or their personal property

Having these answers would be more meaningful than platitudes about supporting the shooting sports.

And promoting having given a million dollars to the backsliding NRA wins no favors over here, either. So another question begs asking:

5)  How much money has Beretta given to groups who consider the compromising of inalienable American rights to be treasonous?

Related Reading

The Look, Smell and Feel of a Sellout
"When can we see the agreement?"

Ruger responds to gunowner frustrations

FoxNews Report About Backroom Deal Between Gun Manufacturers and the United Nations