Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 15:29:22 -0500 (EST)
From: "Lew, Stephen" <[Stephen Lew] at [wellsfargo.com]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[n--b--n] at [mainstream.net]>
Subject: NRA Gets a Place at World Body

AP.international (11-14) 15:56:28

NRA Gets a Place at World Body

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The National Rifle Association, Washington's most 
active pro-gun lobby, won the right
Thursday to lobby at the United Nations.

The U.S. group is campaigning to block what it fears may be a U.N. push for 
tighter regulation of the firearms trade worldwide.

The NRA was one of 86 applicants on a list approved Thursday by the U.N. 
Economic and Social Council for formal status as
non-governmental organizations participating in U.N. activities.

It means NRA representatives will have access to U.N. headquarters and the 
right to submit papers and otherwise lobby
participants at U.N. meetings.

The gun owners' organization was alarmed when the General Assembly last 
December ordered a U.N. study to investigate
ways to reduce the ``destabilizing accumulation and transfer of small arms 
and light weapons.''

Some U.N. member states want international action to stem the illicit global 
trade in small arms, which fuels many small wars.

The study group, comprising representatives of 16 nations, including the 
United States, began its work in June and will submit
its report in mid-1997.

What direction the U.N. initiative may take is unclear. The General Assembly 
might simply adopt a non-binding resolution
urging governments to tighten controls on the trade. Or it could promote a 
treaty on arms smuggling binding signatory nations to
better regulate the market.