President Obama’s ‘signing statement’ on Appropriations Act, refusing to be bound by several provisions, including Gitmo, gun-control and ‘czars’ Dec. 23, 2011
Today I have signed into law H.R. 2055, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012.” This bill provides the funding necessary for the smooth operation of our Nation’s Government.
I have previously announced that it is the policy of my Administration, and in the interests of promoting transparency in Government, to indicate when a bill presented for Presidential signature includes provisions that are subject to well-founded constitutional objections. The Department of Justice has advised that a small number of provisions of H.R. 2055 raise constitutional concerns.
In this bill, the Congress has once again included provisions that would bar the use of appropriated funds for transfers of Guantanamo detainees into the United States (section 8119 of Division A), as well as transfers to the custody or effective control of foreign countries unless specified conditions are met (section 8120 of Division A). These provisions are similar to others found in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. My Administration has repeatedly communicated my objections to these provisions, including my view that they could, under certain circumstances,
As U.N. Finalizes Arms Trade Treaty,Opponents Warn of Global Gun Grab
– Amid energetic lobbying from both sides, the Obama administration is taking part in month-long negotiations at United Nations headquarters aimed at finalizing a conventional arms trade treaty, which supporters say will save millions of lives but opponents fear threatens to restrict Second Amendment rights at home and U.S. arms sales policies abroad.
U.N. bureaucrats insist that the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will have no impact on civilian gun ownership, saying that it will deal only with the arms trade across borders. They also stress that its outcome will not be imposed on any country, noting it will only be binding on countries that ratify it.
In a letter to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the eve of the conference, 130 Republican lawmakers outlined their concerns that the treaty being negotiated could negatively affect U.S. security, foreign policy and economic interests – as well as Americans’ constitutional rights.
SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN REMARKS TO CONFERENCE ON ARMS TRADE TREATY, CALLS ABSENCE OF GLOBAL INSTRUMENT DEALING WITH CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS ‘A DISGRACE’
Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, in New York on 3 July:
Ambassador [Roberto Garcia] Moritán, I would like to express my sincere congratulations once again on your election. Ambassador Moritán and I have been working very closely for a long time. I have known him in his various capacities in the Argentinean Government. Thus I know him very well — his vision, his commitment and his leadership. I am confident that, under his very wise leadership, he will be able to lead this Conference towards a great success.
I would like, again, to thank you for your patience. In this type of very important conference [with] multilateral organizations, it is not uncommon that Member States have some different views on certain issues. I only hope that you will exercise your wisdom and common vision and commitment to work for the common humanity. The whole international community is watching how this Conference will come out at the end of this month-long discussion, on 27 July.
I sincerely hope that, Mr. President, you will exercise your leadership and, with the full cooperation and sense of flexibility and common sense, agree to a legally binding arms trade treaty at the end of this. This is my earnest hope and appeal to all delegations here who have come [from far] and wide, from all different parts of the world.
I also want to convey my special thanks to the many civil society organizations here today for your vigorous support for an arms trade treaty. You have helped capture the imagination and energy of millions.
Everyone in this room is making history. I am very encouraged and impressed by such fully packed delegations. This is the largest conference room we can provide at this time, except the General Assembly Hall. Again, I really thank you for your engagement; this is a very positive engagement.
For the first time, Member States are gathering at the United Nations to negotiate a treaty regulating the international conventional arms trade. It is important. It is impressive. And it is long overdue. MORE FROM THE UN
Without any national debate — and after secret negotiations — Obama is going to sign the Arms Trade Treaty which will lead to UN imposed gun control. Dick Morris reports.
In fact, The UN is advising schools and teachers to have the plan below of discussion in classrooms worldwide and the United States through their UN Cyberschoolbus website; where you can find the entire plan. shera~For Class Discussion, an Educator Might Ask:
- If the photograph were a still from a film, what do think happened before and what happened after the photograph was taken?
- What comments or observations do you want to make about the feelings barometer?
- According to the barometer, how are most students in the class feeling today?
For a Class Discussion on a Specific Question/Issue, an Educator Might Ask:
- What are the reasons why someone might be feeling good about gun control and small arms disarmament?
- Why might someone have negative feelings about gun control and small arms disarmament?
- What are the reasons why someone might be feeling good about nuclear disarmament?
- Why might someone have negative feelings about nuclear disarmament?
Wrap up the class discussion by explaining the special and transient nature of feelings. Like air pressure that changes with the weather, our feelings also change. They are not stagnant. Sometimes we are having emotionally sunny days and sometimes we are caught in the middle of a storm. Weather changes, feelings change and to express the variety of feelings we have “due to a variety of conditions in our personal lives and in the world around us” is a perfectly sane and healthy.
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