The United States Department of Commerce announced late on Friday that a 90-day freeze has been placed on American firearm exports and ammunition sales, citing national security concerns. Pending a review of the risks posed by American weapons circulating abroad, US manufacturers will be blocked from selling their products internationally in what many are calling an attack on the firearms industry.
According to a brief update from the Department of Commerce, the 90-day export ban was enacted pending an urgent review to assess the “risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities.” The restriction will stop the issuing of export licenses for weapon and ammunition sales to non-governmental customers, restricting the flow of semi-automatic and non-automatic rifles, shotguns, optical sights, and most other products available in a standard gun store.
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Close American allies, including Canada and the United Kingdom, will not be affected by the ban. Additionally, Israel and Ukraine—both of which have special export-control agreements—will also be unaffected. However, major international markets for American firearms, including Brazil, Guatemala, and Thailand, will now be suspended, leading many insiders to see this as an effort meant to harm gun manufacturers.
Exporters may continue to submit license requests to the Commerce Department, but they will be “held without action” until the pause lifts if the supplier does not name specific governmental end users for the weapons. American firearm manufacturers including Sturm Ruger & Co., Smith & Wesson, and Vista Outdoor could all be affected by the new restrictions, according to Reuters.
“For sure they have individual country policies – but nothing like this,” said firearms export lawyer Johanna Reeves of the Commerce Department’s sweeping action.
The exact scope of the ban has not yet been announced, but the Commerce Department’s review could drastically alter its business-friendly approach to the firearms industry which began in 2020 when export oversight responsibilities were transferred from the State Department. The Commerce Department may also reassess its support for the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, a massive gun expo held in Las Vegas every January.
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