United Nations Conference on the

Illicit Trade in Small Arms

8^th Meeting (AM)

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS HIGHLIGHT IMPACT OF FIREARMS INJURIES,

GUN-OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE DEBATE

CORRECTION

In Press Release DC/2792, issued on 16 July 2001, the statement of MARY LEIGH BLEK, Million Mom March, on page 10 should read, as follows:

MARY LEIGH BLEK, Million Mom March:  The gun lobby has been talking for 40 minutes.  During that time, 40 people around the world have been shot dead with the weapons they promote and sell.  That figure, not the statement of those representatives, is further proof that this country is at war.  Indeed, my own son was victim of the war raging within our own borders that takes the lives of 10 children and teens each day.  There is no accountability and responsibility required in gun-ownership policies where we do not license our gun owners nor register guns.  While the firearms industry has been making a profit, our children have been dying.  The price we are paying is too high for the profits generated by an unregulated industry of death.  The tragic firearm death rate for children in this country sparked the organization of the Million Mom March.  On Mothers’ Day 2000, Americans stood up and cried “Enough!” when 750,000 moms and their families came together on the mall in Washington, D.C.

Why am I telling you this?  Because the head of the United States delegation to this Conference does not represent the thinking of the American public.  That delegate represents a minority view of a minority government.  I believe that representative gave the erroneous impression that people in the United States believe that domestic gun laws do not have an impact on the illicit trafficking of guns and should, therefore, not be a concern for the international community.  I am here to set the record straight.  The majority of my fellow citizens favour better regulation of guns, including licensing of our gun owners, registration of guns and closing the gun show loophole that allows criminals and minors to get weapons.  The American public knew that guns purchased in legal markets here can and do flow into the illicit market in worldwide illicit trafficking in small arms.  We know that guns do not respect borders.  We know that the world’s children, as well as our own, are depending on our work at this Conference.

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