Fully autonomous weapons systems will likely reduce long-established thresholds for resorting to violence and the use of force, which nations and the UN has carefully built over decades. These norms have been paramount in ensuring global security, but they would be easier to break with autonomous weapons systems. Although the intent of the United States might be to use autonomous weapons to wage war without risking soldiers, others may use them to terrorize their own civilians or those of neighboring countries. Put, simply, such weapons could increase the risks to civilians, and the prevalence of armed conflict.
As a result we petition the Obama administration to aggressively champion the ban of these new and dangerous weapons systems.