Gun Lobby Criticizes John Kerry After He Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty

Treaty would set up a regulatory framework for the arms industry

Secretary of State John Kerry signed the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Wednesday, joining 89 other countries in support of an international solution to the proliferation of guns and other deadly weapons, but flying in the face of many U.S. senators and gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association.

The treaty would create a framework for regulating the $70-billion-a-year conventional arms business. It would require nations to ensure tanks, warships, small arms (pistols and rifles, for example) and other weapons would not be sold to parties that were intent on committing genocide, terrorism or otherwise infringing on human rights.