Editing Arms control (section)

== Enactment ==

Arms control treaties and agreements are often seen as a way to avoid costly [[arms race]]s which could prove counter-productive to national aims and future peace.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arms Control |url=http://www.globalissues.org/issue/66/arms-control |publisher=Global Issues |work=globalissues.org |access-date=13 May 2012 |author=Anup Shah |format=Article |date=6 May 2012}}</ref>  Some are used as ways to stop the spread of certain military technologies (such as nuclear weaponry or missile technology) in return for assurances to potential developers that they will not be victims of those technologies.  Additionally, some arms control agreements are entered to limit the damage done by warfare, especially to civilians and the environment, which is seen as bad for all participants regardless of who wins a war.

While arms control treaties are seen by many peace proponents as a key tool against war, by the participants, they are often seen simply as ways to limit the high costs of the development and building of weapons, and even reduce the costs associated with war itself.  Arms control can even be a way of maintaining the viability of military action by limiting those weapons that would make war so costly and destructive as to make it no longer a viable tool for national policy.