Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

Pro-Gun Members of Congress Respond to State Department’s Disastrous Manufacturing “Guidance”

Friday, September 2, 2016

Pro-Gun Members of Congress Respond to State Department’s Disastrous Manufacturing “Guidance”

This week, pro-gun members of Congress responded to the Obama administration’s attempt at backdoor gun control through the U.S. State Department (DOS) with strongly worded letters demanding corrective action.

In July, we reported on an ill-advised attempt by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of DOS (DDTC) to “clarify” who is a regulated firearms “manufacturer” for purposes of the Arms Export Control Act and its implementing rules, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

As we noted in that report, DDTC’s “guidance” document creates far more confusion than clarity and threatens to chill lawful behavior and put small commercial gunsmiths who cannot afford ITAR’s heavy compliance costs out of business.

DDTC’s move is all the more egregious, considering the fact that the Obama Administration has for years pledged to remove most firearms and ammunition from ITAR’s scope, in favor of the more business-friendly jurisdiction of the Commerce Department.

This so-called Export Control Reform (ECR) initiative was originally aimed at “building higher walls around a smaller yard” by strengthening controls on America’s most sophisticated defense technologies, while reducing unnecessary restrictions and regulations on less sensitive items.

Firearms and ammunition – among the most common and least sophisticated defense technologies and technologies with obvious and legitimate markets in the private sector – were supposed to be the first categories to be moved over from DDTC’s jurisdiction to that of the Commerce Department.

But because of President Obama’s antigun politics, they remain among the last of the “munitions” categories to be amended. Meanwhile, as DDTC’s ECR website notes, the agency has already reviewed such categories as “Toxological Agents,” “Spacecraft and Related Articles,” and “Directed Energy Weapons.” For DDTC to suggest firearms and ammunition already present in tens of millions of American homes are somehow more militarily sensitive than those items is absurd on its face.

To make matters worse, DDTC has been building the “higher walls” on ITAR’s remaining items, meaning that the firearms and ammunition that remain under ITAR’s control will be even more stringently regulated than in the past.

Fortunately, pro-gun members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are aware of the problems and sent Secretary of State John Kerry strongly-worded letters this week expressing their concerns and urging DDTC to complete the process of Export Control Reform. Dozens of senators and well over one hundred representatives signed onto the letters.

According to the letters, “the last thing [the affected small businesses] need is an edict from the federal government imposing crippling fees and requirements which are wholly unnecessary and nonsensical.” They also ask for a specific date by which the administration will finish the process of Export Control Reform.

In the meantime, NRA is working with industry representatives on corrective legislation, should DDTC prove nonresponsive.

We thank U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) for their leadership in this critical effort.

Stayed tuned for further updates on this developing situation.

TRENDING NOW
U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Senate Finance Committee Releases Text of Reconciliation Bill

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Senate Finance Committee Releases Text of Reconciliation Bill

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance released its portion of the Senate version of the Reconciliation Bill. Late last month, the U.S. House passed a version of the Reconciliation Bill which included Section 2 of the ...

DOJ Files Amicus Brief Supporting NRA-Backed Challenge to IL’s Ban on “Assault Weapons” and “Large-Capacity Magazines”

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

DOJ Files Amicus Brief Supporting NRA-Backed Challenge to IL’s Ban on “Assault Weapons” and “Large-Capacity Magazines”

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit supporting an NRA-backed challenge to Illinois’s prohibition on so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines.”

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s One-Gun-A-Month Law

Friday, June 20, 2025

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s One-Gun-A-Month Law

Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that California’s law prohibiting people from buying more than one firearm in a 30-day period violates the Second Amendment.

Rhode Island: Senate Committee Advances Semi-Auto Ban

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Rhode Island: Senate Committee Advances Semi-Auto Ban

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8–6 to advance Senate Bill 359 Sub A, a revised version of the so-called “Assault Weapons Ban.” The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote this ...

Gun Law Effective Dates: It’s Not Just What but When that Counts

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Gun Law Effective Dates: It’s Not Just What but When that Counts

The gun owning community is often saddled with a larger responsibility than most in knowing the many laws that govern gun ownership throughout the states.

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

For decades, gun control advocates and their allies in “public health” have pushed a misleading factoid about children and firearms.

New York: Gun Owners Escape Session With No Damage

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

New York: Gun Owners Escape Session With No Damage

Gun owners can quietly celebrate the 2025 legislative session drawing to a close without a gun control bill going to the Governor. Although the Senate passed several bad bills, the Assembly did not reciprocate, stalling ...

Minnesota: Removal of Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Added to Environmental Omnibus Bill

Friday, June 6, 2025

Minnesota: Removal of Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Added to Environmental Omnibus Bill

This week outside of regular session, the Environment Omnibus bill was agreed upon. This omnibus bill would remove shotgun-only hunting zones in the state. A special session has been scheduled for Monday, June 9th, for the ...

Gun-Control Window Dressing: Chicago Inspector-General Calls Out Futility of Gun Offender Registry

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Gun-Control Window Dressing: Chicago Inspector-General Calls Out Futility of Gun Offender Registry

Fifteen years ago, the City of Chicago adopted a “gun offender registry” ordinance that requires convicted gun offenders to register with the police and have police monitor anyone listed in the registry. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.