Arms trade treaty faces enough Senate opposition to scuttle pact if Obama submits it

WASHINGTON – Senate opponents of a treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar global arms trade say they have enough votes to block its ratification.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said Wednesday that the treaty overwhelmingly approved by the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday was deeply flawed.

Lee became the 35th senator to back a resolution by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas saying the Senate should not ratify the treaty if it undermines Americans' constitutional right to bear arms.

The Constitution requires two-thirds of the Senate — 67 votes — to ratify a treaty.

The National Rifle Association backs Moran's resolution which has the support of 33 Republicans and two Democrats — Max Baucus of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.