Justice for All- a Better Path to Global Firearms Control

Abstract

Human rights activists who support a binding global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) miss an important dimension of global reality: many people the world over own firearms primary to protect their families and communities from government-sponsored genocide and other abuses. Governments historically have been, and still are, the primary perpetrators of violence and human rights violations. The most effective long-term path towards disarmament in conflict-ridden parts of the world is to reduce demand by civilians to possess defensive arms. Rather than relying upon ineffective and counter-productive top-down measures, the better way to do so would be to promote grassroots movements dedicated to strengthening good governance and the rule of law.