PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.

from on .

  1. Signatures
    2 out of 10,000
    Petitioning
    1. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)
  2. Created By
    Daniel J Gerstle
    Brooklyn, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter

In Oxfam International's new short film, Bang for Your Buck, directed by Seth Chase and Brice Blondel and found at ShootingPoverty.org, the filmmakers follow a scourge of grenade murders against civilians in the African nation of Burundi where the price of a grenade has fallen as low as $1. (See the embedded video for detail.)

We are reminded that global arms control is not only about nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, or even about safely stored hunting rifles. It is also about the trade in grenades, mines, and improvised explosive devices which are bought for dollars to murder in Africa and around the world.

The top global security priority of the United States must not be free trade for weapons, but the protection of every global citizen's right to be safe from weapons that fall too easily into the hands of those committing crimes.

For this petition, let's follow the lead of Oxfam International's ShootingPoverty.org and the ControlArms.org project in calling on members of parliament and congress to rally support behind an Arms Trade Treaty.

Early momentum is absolutely vital in the many steps in the lead up to the conference to firm up such a treaty in 2012. Here we select Chris Smith because he has been the highest ranking Republican focused on African Affairs in the House of Representatives, is already partly sympathetic, and has influence on others who might oppose the treaty.

Recent Signatures

Help Us Rally the U.S. Congress Behind a Compassionate Arms Trade Treaty

Greetings, Congressman Smith

In Oxfam International's new short film, Bang for Your Buck, filmmakers follow a scourge of grenade murders on civilians in the African nation of Burundi where the price of a grenade has fallen as low as $1.

We are reminded that global arms control is not only about nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, or even about safely stored hunting rifles. It is also about the trade in grenades, mines, and improvised explosive devices which are bought for dollars to murder in Africa and around the world.

Congressman, you have done important work as the Ranking Republican Member of the U.S. House Sub-Committee on African Affairs, including your support for the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act. Now is the time to stand firmly behind the President and Secretary of State, and rally other members of the new majority to support efforts for a comprehensive and compassionate arms trade treaty.

The top global security priority of the United States must not be free trade for weapons, but the protection of every global citizen's right to be safe from weapons that fall too easily into the hands of those committing crimes.

Please encourage other members of congress and email parliamentarians@controlarms.org with your name and title, country, and region/constituency, to show your support for the goal of an international, legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), to establish effective controls on the international trade in weapons.

Thank you for your service to the U.S. Sub-Committee on Africa, and thanks for protecting the rights of Americans and Africans alike not to be vulnerable to $1 hand grenades.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Press Inquiries