Summary of the eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that is titled "List of Traitors." It alleged that 46 Democratic members of the U.S. Senate voted not to uphold Second Amendment rights and allow the United States to enter into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. The email said that no Republican Senators voted in this manner.
The Truth:
It is true that 46 Democratic Senators voted against Amendment 139 on the Senate Floor on March 23, 2013.
The statement of purpose on the Amendment said, "To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty." This according to the official website of the U.S. Senate.
The Amendment passed by a narrow margin 53 to 46 with one member not voting.
The senators who casted votes against this measure were:
It is true that 46 Democratic Senators voted against Amendment 139 on the Senate Floor on March 23, 2013.
The statement of purpose on the Amendment said, "To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty." This according to the official website of the U.S. Senate.
The Amendment passed by a narrow margin 53 to 46 with one member not voting.
The senators who casted votes against this measure were:
NAYs ---46 | ||
Baldwin (D-WI) Baucus (D-MT) Bennet (D-CO) Blumenthal (D-CT) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Coons (D-DE) Cowan (D-MA) Durbin (D-IL) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) |
Harkin (D-IA) Hirono (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kaine (D-VA) King (I-ME) Klobuchar (D-MN) Landrieu (D-LA) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murphy (D-CT) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) |
Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schatz (D-HI) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Stabenow (D-MI) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Warren (D-MA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) |
As for the charge of treason, that is for each American to decide. What is clearly evident by this vote is that the 46 Senators failed do to something which they all took an oath to do. And that is to support and defend the Constitution.
A real example of the eRumor as it has
appeared on the Internet:
Subject: LIST OF TRAITORS
Two independents no Republicans, the rest Democrats.
Over the weekend, we were four votes away from the United States senate giving our constitutional rights over to the United Nations. In a 53-46 vote, the senate narrowly passed a measure that will stop the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
The Statement of Purpose from the bill read:
To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
Two independents no Republicans, the rest Democrats.
Over the weekend, we were four votes away from the United States senate giving our constitutional rights over to the United Nations. In a 53-46 vote, the senate narrowly passed a measure that will stop the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
The Statement of Purpose from the bill read:
To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
The U.N. Small Arms Treaty, which has
been championed by the Obama Administration , would have effectively
placed a global ban on the import and export of small firearms. The ban
would have affected all private gun owners in the U.S., and had language
that would have implemented an international gun registry on all private
guns and ammo.
Astonishingly, 46 of our senators were willing to give away our constitutional rights to a foreign power.
Here are the senators that voted to give your rights to the U.N.:Astonishingly, 46 of our senators were willing to give away our constitutional rights to a foreign power.
Baldwin (D-WI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cowan (D-MA)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
Please note: None are Republicans!