MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024
Team Herald
The United States has imposed a 90-day halt on the issuance of export licenses for the majority of civilian firearms and ammunition, as revealed by the Commerce Department. This decision is justified on grounds of national security and foreign policy concerns. The temporary pause encompasses various types of firearms, including shotguns and optical sights. The Commerce Department has not released specific details regarding the suspension but has highlighted the need for an urgent review to evaluate the risk of these firearms being diverted to entities or activities that could contribute to regional instability, human rights violations, or criminal activities.
Notably, this significant move excludes Ukraine, Israel, and select allied nations from the export restrictions. According to Johanna Reeves, an expert in export controls and firearms law, this sweeping action by the Commerce Department is unprecedented, and while individual country policies exist, nothing of this scale has been implemented before. The U.S. government's decision reflects a commitment to addressing potential security and foreign policy challenges associated with the export of civilian firearms and ammunition.
