New Senate Bill Would End BIS Pause on Firearms Export Licenses
Seven Republican senators led by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah introduced a bill this month aimed at countering the Commerce Department’s recent 90-day pause in issuing commercial firearms export licenses.
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The proposed Protect American Gun Exporters Act would prohibit Commerce from imposing blanket pauses on new export licenses for businesses selling firearms, gun parts and ammunition to non-governmental end-users in most foreign countries. It would also prevent Commerce from unilaterally implementing policy changes after it assesses current export controls on those products.
A press release announcing the bill calls the pause “unnecessary and legally questionable” and cites an estimate from the National Shooting Sports Foundation that the pause would cost the gun manufacturing industry almost $90 million.
“The extensive economic impact threatens not only the financial stability of gun manufacturers but also the jobs of countless Americans reliant on this sector,” the release says.
The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Steve Daines of Montana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rick Scott of Florida, and John Thune of South Dakota.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., introduced a similar bill in the House in late November (see 2312060039). House and Senate members have sent several letters to Commerce criticizing the pause.
The Bureau of Industry and Security announced the pause on Oct. 27, saying it would allow Commerce to “more effectively assess and mitigate risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities” (see 2310270068). BIS reportedly is considering introducing new rules for firearms exports, including requiring certain end-users to submit their passports to BIS, and shortening the validity period of certain licenses from four years to one year (see 2312260039).