Stop Unregulated Arms Trade

The Good Shepherd Voices for Justice Ministry presents justice issues monthly consistent with Gospel values and Catholic social teaching and then offers a call to action. We believe that as we gain better understanding of local, national and international issues in light of the Gospels and the principles of Catholic social teaching, and then speak and act accordingly, the process will offer opportunities for transformation and for furthering the reign of God on earth.

With this in mind, please review this month’s issue and consider taking the recommended action. We estimate it will take you only a few minutes to complete this action. We encourage you also to take time to pray and reflect on the presence of God in the process.

We welcome everyone who is interested in letting their voice be heard for God’s justice – both those in the community of Good Shepherd and beyond.

BACKGROUND

In the last decade, over five million people were killed using conventional weapons, many of them civilians and many killed by illicit arms. The absence of effective international and national controls of arms transfers has led to countless atrocities and human rights abuses around the world. Urge the U.S. government to take action to establish effective mechanisms for the legal and transparent transfer of arms, and to prevent weapons from getting into the wrong hands.

The uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of arms takes a massive human toll in lost lives and lost livelihoods. An average of US$22 billion a year is spent on arms by countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America – a sum that would otherwise allow them to meet development goals such as reducing infant and maternal mortality.

The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provides one example of the devastating consequences of proliferation and misuse of arms. More than three million people have died during the past five years of war in the DRC. At least 50,000 people have died in the Ituri region where rival armed groups fight to control abundant natural resources, including diamonds, coltan, gold, copper, cobalt and timber. The revenue from these resources fuels an uncontrolled flow of arms into the region. Combatants have used these weapons to commit grave violations of human rights, including mass killings of unarmed combatants, the use of large number of child soldiers, kidnapping, and the routine use of rape as a method of torture.

ACTION

Write a letter, email or phone Senator’s Kohl and/or Feingold advising them of your concern and asking them to take action.

Contact information for you Senators:

Feingold, Russell

506 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-5323

E-mail: mailto:russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Kohl, Herb

330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

(202) 224-5653

Web Form: kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Below is sample content for your letter or email, or script for your phone call. Please modify and use your own phrasing if possible.

The Honorable (insert Senator name here)

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator ________________ :

I am deeply concerned by the unregulated proliferation of arms, which has contributed to devastating atrocities around the world.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an example of how lax and at times non-existent regulation to conventional arms transfers have a devastating impact on human rights. Over three million people have died in the DRC since 1998 as a result of the misuse of these weapons.

Some of the arms used to commit such atrocities in the DRC are reported to have been manufactured in the Belgium, China, France, Germany, Israel, Spain, the UK, and the United States.

I ask you to take action to improve the U. S. Government’s capacity to control its own arms transfers in order to further protect U.S. citizens and those of other nations from armed violence. Further, the U.S. must cooperate with other nations to develop guidelines to insure that all proposed arms deals—including those brokered by a third party—undergo strict and transparent licensing procedures, and that all arms manufacturers and brokers register with their country of citizenship or residence.

The United States has an important role to play in ensuring that no arms transfers are made to states where these items may be used to commit human rights abuses. The millions who have been maimed or killed in the DRC are but one example of the deleterious effects of the unregulated flow of arms around the world.

The U.S. Senate has an obligation to play its part in halting this trade. I ask you to urge the Bush administration to examine the human rights impact of the widespread misuse of weapons, improve enforcement of existing controls, and take steps to end the unregulated arms trade.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Your name and address here

Information source: Maryknoll