Democratic Lawmakers Call for Bolstering New Controls on Gun Exports
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, urged the Commerce Department this month to make several changes to “strengthen” the Bureau of Industry and Security’s new interim rule restricting firearms exports.
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In a July 1 letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that was publicly released by Warren's office July 17, the lawmakers said they welcome the new rule but do not believe it goes far enough to prevent "assault weapons" from ending up in the wrong hands. They said they're disappointed that BIS didn't include many of the suggestions they made in January (see 2401250069).
To address what they consider the rule’s shortcomings, the lawmakers recommend that BIS impose a presumption of denial for all semiautomatic firearms to all civilian users, including semiautomatic pistols. They also call for banning the commercial re-sale of assault weapons outside the U.S. and requiring people who temporarily export up to three firearms in their luggage to return with them to the U.S.
The lawmakers also want Commerce to commit to publicly releasing firearms licensing approval data at least annually to help policymakers gauge whether the rule is meeting its goal of restricting exports to high-risk countries. "Transparency regarding export approvals data and how American firearms are used once abroad is one of the key ways Commerce can be held accountable," the letter says.
In a statement, the department said it “has received the letter and will reply through the appropriate channels.”
BIS released the rule in April, saying it's designed to reduce the risk that firearms end up in the hands of criminals, terrorists or cartels (see 2404260054). The rule will create a “presumption of denial” for firearms export licenses for 36 countries in which there is a “substantial risk” of diversion or misuse. All existing previously approved firearms export licenses for those countries will be revoked. The rule also will reduce the duration of most firearms export licenses from four years to one. Public comments on the new regulations were due July 1.
House and Senate Republicans have criticized the rule, saying it's hurting U.S. manufacturers of guns and ammunition (see 2407100058 and 2405030035).