U.S. to Sign Controversial U.N. Arms Treaty Despite Lawmakers’ Concerns It Could Lead to New Gun Control MeasuresJun. 3, 2013 5:15pm Jason Howerton

UNITED NATIONS (TheBlaze/AP) — More than 60 countries signed the landmark treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar global arms trade Monday and the United States announced it will sign soon, giving a strong kickoff to the first major international anti-gun campaign. The global body claims the treaty will help stem the illicit trade in weapons that fuel conflicts and extremists.The announcement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that the U.S. – the world’s largest arms dealer – will sign is critical to the treaty’s passage, but the measure’s ultimate strength rests on support by all major arms exporters and importers. While the treaty was overwhelmingly approved on April 2 by the U.N. General Assembly, key arms exporters including Russia and China and major importers including India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Egypt abstained and have given no indication yet that they will sign it.

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have opposed the treaty over concerns it could lead to new gun control measures in the United States.