Exclusive - Trump administration prepares to ease export rules for U.S. guns

[webfact]

Exclusive - Trump administration prepares to ease export rules for U.S. guns

By Mike Stone and Matt Spetalnick

 

FILE PHOTO: An exhibit booth for firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson is seen on display at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago, Illinois, October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is preparing to make it easier for American gun makers to sell small arms, including assault rifles and ammunition, to foreign buyers, according to senior U.S. officials.

 

Aides to President Donald Trump are completing a plan to shift oversight of international non-military firearms sales from the State Department to the Commerce Department, four officials told Reuters.

 

While the State Department is primarily concerned about international threats to stability and maintains tight restrictions on weapons deals, the Commerce Department typically focuses more on facilitating trade.

 

The officials from multiple agencies, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the new rules will cut government red tape and regulatory costs, boosting U.S. exports of small arms and creating jobs at home.

 

"There will be more leeway to do arms sales," one senior administration official said. "You could really turn the spigot on if you do it the right way."

 

The push fits both Trump's support for the gun lobby espoused on the campaign trail and his "Buy American" agenda.

 

But critics, including some lawmakers and arms control advocates, have expressed concern that any easing of export rules could make powerful weapons of the type often used in U.S. mass shootings more accessible to criminal gangs and militant groups that Trump has vowed to fight.

 

The administration has all but finalized a draft of the new rules, which could be sent to the White House budget office for review within days, one U.S. official said.

 

The changes – which can be enacted without congressional approval - could be made public this fall, followed by a period of public comment, with implementation as early as the first half of next year, the officials said.

 

The officials stressed, however, that the proposed shift in oversight was not a blanket deregulation of firearms.

 

"The NSC is working through the interagency process with the State Department and the Department of Commerce to ensure that U.S. industries have every advantage in the global marketplace, while at the same time ensuring the responsible export of arms," said an official with the White House National Security Council.

 

SLACK U.S. SALES

 

The move, part of a broader Trump administration overhaul of weapons export policy that the officials say is also nearing completion, comes at a time when U.S. gun makers could use the help.

 

Domestic gun sales have fallen significantly after soaring under President Barack Obama, when gun enthusiasts stockpiled weapons and ammunition out of fear that the government would tighten gun laws.

 

Since Trump was elected in November, the share price for Smith & Wesson owner American Outdoor Brands Corp is down 50 percent and Sturm Ruger has fallen 26 percent.

 

On Tuesday, following Reuters report on the administration's plans, the share prices of Sturm Ruger and American Outdoor surged as much as 18 percent.

 

Both stand to benefit from easier export protocols, alongside Vista Outdoor and the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns Bushmaster, a brand of AR-15 assault rifle.

 

The powerful U.S. gun lobby backed Trump in the 2016 election. The National Rifle Association spent more than $30 million in support of his candidacy. "I am going to come through for you," Trump told the NRA convention in April.  

 

The State Department licensed an estimated $4 billion in commercial firearms exports last year, of which $3.2 billion would shift to Commerce under the new arrangement, one U.S. official said.

 

In recent years, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia have been among the top destination countries for U.S. non-military firearms exports, according to U.S. Census data.

 

The shift to Commerce could increase sales by 15-20 percent annually, predicted Lawrence Keane, senior vice president for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearms industry trade association.

 

The effort to streamline U.S. small arms export controls dates back to an Obama administration initiative begun in 2009, but which was never translated into policy.

 

The process was repeatedly stalled by a series of U.S. mass shootings, including one at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 in which 20 children and six adults were killed by a gunman using an AR-15-style assault rifle.

 

Assault rifles like the Bushmaster would be some of the most powerful weapons expected to be more readily available for commercial export under the new rules, which are largely in line with proposals the Obama administration had crafted.

 

STRESS TEST

 

Democratic Senators Ben Cardin, Dianne Feinstein and Patrick Leahy urged against any rash regulatory changes in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday, saying combat firearms are the "primary means of injury and destruction in civil and military conflicts throughout the world."

 

Zlatko Hadzismajlovic, a New York attorney specializing in export controls, said the changes would be a tough "stress test" for U.S. arms policy.

 

"The transition appears particularly ill-timed," he said, citing recent Islamist militant attacks in Europe and heightened regional tensions on the borders of NATO members such as Turkey and the Baltic states.

 

Administration officials say they are not looking to green-light dangerous sales but that it is unrealistic to continue to hamstring U.S. gun makers in foreign markets.

 

They point out, for instance, that AR-15 rifles are already readily available worldwide since the technology is decades old, the weapons are sold in U.S. sporting goods stores and parts can be reproduced using a 3D printer.

 

The new rules would move both the licensing and supervision for export of most non-military firearms and ammunition to Commerce officials, who have been directed by Trump to ease the overall regulatory burden on U.S. exporters.

 

Commercial gun exports would no longer be given the same scrutiny as missile and fighter jet sales, which often require congressional approval.

 

"Commerce wants more exports to help reduce the trade deficit. And State wants to stop things because it sees (arms) proliferation as inherently bad," one of the officials said.

 

"We want to make a decision that prioritizes what's more important," the official said. "This will allow us to get in the (small arms sales) game for the first time ever."

 

The shift would officially move weapons like assault rifles and handguns from State's tightly restricted Munitions List to the Commerce Control List (CCL), which allows for more streamlined licensing for overseas sales.

 

U.S. companies compete for foreign market share with companies such as Austrian manufacturer Glock and Italian gun maker Beretta.

 

(Reporting by Mike Stone and Matt Spetalnick, additional reporting by Peter Eisler, Grant Smith and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chris Sanders and Tomasz Janowski)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-21

[darksidedog]

The US market is saturated so they want to export shootings and murders to the rest of the world. There are way too many guns out there in the wrong hands already thanks!

[craigt3365]

13 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

The US market is saturated so they want to export shootings and murders to the rest of the world. There are way too many guns out there in the wrong hands already thanks!

The weapons market should be more regulated.  Absolutely too many weapons out there.  Sadly, the demand is very strong.

[ELVIS123456]

No reasons not to remove the roadblocks to legal trade - especially with Allied countries.  If India Australia UK etc want to buy more arms from USA, why not make it easier and stop giving benefit to China and Russia to sell their gear. Liberal lunacy to think stopping USA selling arms will stop others buying then from others and using them. 

 

[PremiumLane]

15 minutes ago, ELVIS123456 said:

Liberal lunacy to think stopping USA selling arms will stop others buying then from others and using them. 

False dichotomy, no one is saying it will stop others from buying them. 

 

But don't talk about reducing terrorism, while exporting more weapons around the world. - suppose that is 'liberal lunacy' or whatever buzzword you got from Fox News this week

[Samui Bodoh]

C'mon everyone! 

 

The poor terrorists out there have had to resort to using trucks to kill people; terrorists should be able to use guns just like everyone else. 

 

This has got to be the stupidest idea I have seen in a very long time. What idiot thinks the world needs MORE guns?

 

I have said it before and (unfortunately) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

 

[iReason]

54 minutes ago, ELVIS123456 said:

No reasons not to remove the roadblocks to legal trade - especially with Allied countries.  If India Australia UK etc want to buy more arms from USA, why not make it easier and stop giving benefit to China and Russia to sell their gear. Liberal lunacy to think stopping USA selling arms will stop others buying then from others and using them. 

"Liberal lunacy"

Another example of the hyperbolic hostility and divisiveness,

continually displayed by acolytes of the occupier of the White House.

Their malice and marginalizing erupts at every opportunity they can seize to exhibit it.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Domestic gun sales have fallen significantly after soaring under President Barack Obama, when gun enthusiasts stockpiled weapons and ammunition out of fear that the government would tighten gun laws.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The powerful U.S. gun lobby backed Trump in the 2016 election. The National Rifle Association spent more than $30 million in support of his candidacy. "I am going to come through for you," Trump told the NRA convention in April.

Pandering to lobbyists and special interests and his base.

"I don’t want lobbyists. I don’t want special interests.” DJT.

Another LIE repeatedly, exposed.

 

 

[Neilly]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In recent years, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia have been among the top destination countries for U.S. non-military firearms exports, according to U.S. Census data.

I'm sure that little nugget will all make us sleep easier at night...

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

False dichotomy, no one is saying it will stop others from buying them. 

 

But don't talk about reducing terrorism, while exporting more weapons around the world. - suppose that is 'liberal lunacy' or whatever buzzword you got from Fox News this week

 

Terrorists and criminals tend not to worry about laws, morals and such things.

 

Or do you think making crime and terrorism illegal has actually worked?

[car720]

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

False dichotomy, no one is saying it will stop others from buying them. 

 

But don't talk about reducing terrorism, while exporting more weapons around the world. - suppose that is 'liberal lunacy' or whatever buzzword you got from Fox News this week

wow!!  An unsociolinguist.  I like it.

[car720]

One of these days someone is actually going to be able to explain the moral high ground of "American Interests" to me.

Layman's English please, as I am  not very smart.

[tonray]

12 minutes ago, car720 said:

One of these days someone is actually going to be able to explain the moral high ground of "American Interests" to me.

Layman's English please, as I am  not very smart.

American Interests usually revolve around watching football while drinking cheap beer and talking a bout guns and red meat. That about sums it up. (yes I am an American, an atypical one but still an American).

 

 

The real morality here is money...all this false nationalism is nothing but making money for those connected. Always has been and always will be.

[kamahele]

2 hours ago, ELVIS123456 said:

No reasons not to remove the roadblocks to legal trade - especially with Allied countries.  If India Australia UK etc want to buy more arms from USA, why not make it easier and stop giving benefit to China and Russia to sell their gear. Liberal lunacy to think stopping USA selling arms will stop others buying then from others and using them. 

 

You've just named three countries with very strict gun control laws. I don't think they'll be buying many guns from the US unless for their armed forces will be buying small arms . Most of our allies don't have gun fetishes like Americans do.

[natway09]

Good old USA. Now having saturated their local market with guns & killing dozens a day  Trump is hellbent on helping his arms manufacturing buddies who helped get him where he is  on inflicting this gun culture on the rest of the world.  The man is unstable

[Enoon]

 

 

"He (Trump) is a vortex of destruction, and the only way to survive is to get everything we love as far away from him as possible."

 

Robert Tracinski.

 

 

[craigt3365]

19 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

C'mon everyone! 

 

The poor terrorists out there have had to resort to using trucks to kill people; terrorists should be able to use guns just like everyone else. 

 

This has got to be the stupidest idea I have seen in a very long time. What idiot thinks the world needs MORE guns?

 

I have said it before and (unfortunately) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

 

Gun export aren't just small pistols, etc.  One of the biggest exports are weapons like the AK47.  Used by various governments around the world.  Some really dodgy countries are importing massive amounts of these types of weapons for use in internal conflicts.

[Bung]

When I think of America and guns,  I can't get this image out of my head. 

[tonray]

56 minutes ago, Bung said:

When I think of America and guns,  I can't get this image out of my head. 

That's our motto: 'Walk softly and wear a big hat"

[theanimaster]

Why NOT arm the rest of the world? Trump just said we will pour more into our military and cut spending on those stupid silly schools, healthcare and science. Silly leftists. You are all in the way of making our Proud Nation Greater Than China. Who cares about a little smoke that causes people to choke and have shortened life spans? They’re silly farmers and blue collar workers! They’ll vote all the same! And if we take away education and science it’ll be even EASIER for these nitwits to keep us in power! Look at all the dictatorships! They’ve got it good! 

[IAMHERE]

Tempest in a teapot; The American rifle is damned good but the AK-47 and its knockoffs are cheap cheap cheap. No way will the AR-15 replace the MAK-90 or AK-47 versions made around the globe.

Quote

 

 

[JHolmesJr]

he is just practising the doctrine: "if I don't do it, somebody else will"

 

 

[tonray]

6 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

he is just practising the doctrine: "if I don't do it, somebody else will"

 

 

Why not a gun shop in every Trump building ?

[sirineou]

Personally I support Tramps attitude toward gun ownership , and I believe people should be able to carry guns in Trump rallies,

If everyone had guns at one of his rallies the likelihood of a Moron acting crazy would be significantly reduced!

[JHolmesJr]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Why not a gun shop in every Trump building ?

 

those will be the gold ones with diamond encrusted handles.

[ilostmypassword]

8 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

he is just practising the doctrine: "if I don't do it, somebody else will"

 

 

Which is generally the excuse of lowlifes.

[JHolmesJr]

On 22 September, 2017 at 10:25 PM, ilostmypassword said:

Which is generally the excuse of lowlifes.

 

you must be kidding. if you wanna score with women (which I highly doubt you do), this is the doctrine to adopt.

[ilostmypassword]

27 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

you must be kidding. if you wanna score with women (which I highly doubt you do), this is the doctrine to adopt.

says the guy with the chozen avatar. 

[inThailand]

Export more guns. Let them kill each other so we don't have to send gobs of free money to them.

[JHolmesJr]

14 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

says the guy with the chozen avatar. 

Im very comfortable with my sexuality, yo!

[mikebike]

On 2017-09-21 at 1:54 PM, Baerboxer said:

 

Terrorists and criminals tend not to worry about laws, morals and such things.

 

Or do you think making crime and terrorism illegal has actually worked?

Is this post supposed to be a justification for or against increasing arms exports? Confused.