The Biden administration has announced a new rule that will permanently extend the pause on licenses for gun exports to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) plans to publish an interim final rule on April 30, making it harder for American gun companies that rely on foreign exports to operate. This decision comes after a previous pause on issuing new export licenses for some guns and ammunition in 2023. At the request of congressional Democrats, the agency has extended the pause and implemented stricter requirements for firearms exports to NGOs in multiple countries.
The purpose of these changes is to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by preventing criminal organizations from obtaining American weapons. The Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated that the new review process will make it more challenging to export military-style weapons to civilians in unstable countries. However, data from the ATF shows that internationally traced and recovered firearms make up a small percentage of lawfully exported guns from the U.S.
Critics argue that the new rule will burden American gun companies with regulatory obstacles, impacting the industry’s ability to operate. The National Shooting Sports Foundation and other advocacy groups have condemned the policy as a targeted attack on the Second Amendment rights of Americans. The rule will be open for public comment for 60 days before taking effect.
