The U.S. Department of Commerce has halted all civilian exports of firearms and ammunition for 90 days and is evaluating pulling support for the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) SHOT Show.
The announcement came late Friday night. According to the press release, the Department of Commerce is concerned about guns and ammunition falling into the hands of terrorist groups, rogue nations with human rights abuse issues, and criminal organizations. The government says the decision was based on national security concerns and considerations of situations overseas, including “human rights.”
Sales to 40 friendly foreign governments in a multilateral export agreement are exempt, so military deals and shipments to these select allies are still allowed. Many believe conflicts in the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, Ukraine have led to a change in policy. Since the Hamas attack on Israel earlier this month, tensions have risen across the globe as nations have split into pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel sides. In addition to the 40 friendly governments, Israel and Ukraine are exempt from the pause of firearms and ammunition exports.
The government is worried that civilian-purchased firearms and ammo will be redirected to Hamas and unfriendly nations to be used against U.S. allies. Another group seeking weapons is Hezbollah, which operates out of Lebanon and has launched rocket attacks against Israel. Many expect Hezbollah to open a second front of the Hamas-Israeli war on Israel’s northern border.
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The Department of Commerce is also concerned about guns falling into the hands of violent criminal syndicates.
All exports of any kind are now prohibited to Brazil and Guatemala because of gang activity. Brazil and Guatemala are two of the biggest importers of U.S.-made firearms and ammunition. Thailand is another major importer of U.S.-made arms and is now blocked from importing any guns from the U.S. due to human rights concerns.
“The review will be conducted with urgency and will enable the Department 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,” the Department said in a press release announcing the pause.
Anti-gun politicians celebrated the move by the Commerce Department. One constant critic of the firearms industry is Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX). Rep Castro criticized Biden’s 2020 decision to transition firearms exports from the Department of State to the Department of Commerce. He hopes to impact any new Department of Commerce policies around the exportation of firearms and ammunition.
“This 90-day pause and review on small arms exports is a welcome announcement by the Commerce Department,” said Castro. “I look forward to engaging with the Department during this review so U.S. policy moves in the right direction.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce is also evaluating the support it gives to SHOT Show. SHOT Show is the world’s biggest industry trade show for the firearms industry. The Department has provided support for SHOT Show for decades. Many anti-gun groups have criticized the U.S. Government’s involvement in the industry trade show. Former Acting Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Marvin Richardson drew criticism from these anti-gun groups for appearing on stage with NSSF President Larry Keene.
It is currently unknown what policies will be changed after the 90-day pause expires and how much of an impact it will have on the firearms industry. Still, many believe that changes to export rules will not be a positive for the firearms industry, and that right there, may be the true purpose behind this move.
Department of Commerce: Firearms Pause & Review: Frequently Asked Questions October 27, 2023
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
