Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

Why the NRA opposes banning lawfully-owned ivory in the U.S.

The Obama administration and state lawmakers have proposed bans on legally-owned ivory products in the United States, claiming that such bans are necessary to preserve African elephants. While the NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, these proposals would do nothing to protect elephants in Africa and Asia, but would instead make sellers of legal ivory potential criminals overnight, as well as destroy the value of property held by countless gun owners, art collectors, musicians and others.

MORE


 

Sign-Up for Ivory Updates

The Obama administration and state lawmakers have proposed bans on legally-owned ivory products in the United States, claiming that such bans are necessary to preserve African elephants. While the NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, these proposals would do nothing to protect elephants in Africa and Asia, but would instead make sellers of legal ivory potential criminals overnight, as well as destroy the value of property held by countless gun owners, art collectors, musicians and others. If you would like more information on this topic as it becomes available, please fill out the below form.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP FOR IVORY UPDATES

Ivory has been used in gun making for centuries, just as it has been used in fine furniture, jewelry and musical instruments. Ivory is widely used in rifle and shotgun sights and sight inserts, and for ornamental inlays in rifle and shotgun stocks.  Custom handguns—such as General George S. Patton’s famous revolvers—are also often fitted with ivory grips.[1] Ivory is also commonly used in related accessories used by hunters and fishermen, such as knife handles, and handles for gun cleaning equipment and tools.  

For decades, the United States has generally banned the commercial importation of African elephant ivory, other than antique items more than 100 years old; it also bans the commercial export of all raw ivory and strictly regulates export of worked ivory.[2]  However, legally imported ivory may be sold within the U.S., because the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has long presumed that most ivory in the U.S. was legally imported and that its sale in the U.S. would not increase poaching.[3]

If the Obama administration and some state lawmakers proceed with newly proposed ivory bans, the sale of all of the aforementioned items would be illegal and effectively lose their value with a stroke of a pen.

While the goal of restricting illegal commerce in endangered species is laudable—hunters in America and around the world are second to no one in seeking protection and restoration of species such as elephants and rhinos—the effects of a ban on legally owned ivory are disastrous for American gun owners and sportsmen.

 

Why the NRA opposes banning lawfully-owned ivory in the U.S.:

  • Even for items at least 100 years old, the burden of proof would be on the seller to show that the ivory is old enough—a nearly impossible task, since a firearm or other item more than 100 years old may have been restored with newer ivory parts.  Meeting FWS standards of proof would be challenging and expensive, as FWS will require evidence such as scientific testing, a “qualified appraisal,” or other “detailed history” information ranging from family photos to “ethnographic fieldwork.”[4] undefined 
  • The proposed bans demand rigorous documentation to sell ivory that is more than 100 years old, documentation that private individuals typically do not have. Furthermore, there would be no accommodation for the numerous items made of legal ivory after 1915. Such items could not be sold, even with supporting documentation, and property that cannot be sold is radically diminished in value.
  • The NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal ivory trade, but the proposed restrictions on domestic sales of legally-owned ivory —from elephants taken long ago—will not reduce the poaching of elephants or illegal trafficking in ivory.  On the contrary, a ban would affect only honest Americans by making their ivory—acquired lawfully and in good faith—worthless. 
     

At the Federal Level: 

  • On February 11, 2014, the Obama administration announced a “National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking” and a proposal to ban all U.S. commercial trade in elephant ivory.  
  • On February 25, 2014, FWS released a “Director’s Order” broadening the 1989 moratorium on commercial ivory importation to include many previously importable antiques, in part by imposing new and burdensome requirements on importers, exporters and sellers to prove that their ivory is more than 100 years old. [5] 
     
  • On May 27, 2014, the Obama Administration announced a final rule that amends implementing regulations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and purports to apply those regulations to lawful domestic trade, which is outside the scope of the treaty.
     
  • Now, through a yet-unpublished proposed rule under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the FWS plans to revoke current allowances for domestic sale of lawfully imported elephant ivory.  

Fortunately, revocation of the exception for domestic sales will require a rulemaking process—which will give concerned citizens, and Congress, an opportunity to make their voices heard.

 

At the State Level: 

In 2014, New York and New Jersey followed the federal government’s lead and enacted laws prohibiting the sale and trade of ivory, including ivory from mammoths, animals that have long been extinct. Now, owners of legally-obtained ivory products face proposed ivory bans in other states, in which legislation mirroring New York’s and New Jersey’s laws have been introduced.



[1] See John Elliot, “The Known and Lesser Known Carry Guns of George S. Patton,” available at http://www.guns.com/2011/06/17/the-known-and-lesser-known-carry-guns-of-george-s-patton/.
[2] 50 C.F.R. § 17.40(e).
[3] Id.; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered Status for Certain Populations of the African Elephant and Revision of Special Rule, 56 Fed. Reg. 11392, 11398-400 (March 18, 1991).
[4] See http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/directors-order-210-questions-and-answers.pdf.
[5]See U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Director’s Order No. 210, Feb. 25, 2014, available at http://www.fws.gov/policy/do210.pdf; see alsohttp://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/directors-order-210-questions-and-answers.pdf.

LESS

Issue Articles
SECTION
FROM
WITHIN
Maryland: Two Pro-Gun Victories in the Assembly This Week

Friday, March 11, 2016

Maryland: Two Pro-Gun Victories in the Assembly This Week

Marylanders can celebrate two victories this week! The following anti-gun bills were defeated in the Maryland General Assembly:

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Pass House Floor Vote

Hunting  

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Pass House Floor Vote

Yesterday, three anti-gun bills passed their floor votes in the Hawaii House of Representatives.  These bills will now ...

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Legislation Moves to the House Floor

Hunting  

Monday, March 7, 2016

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Legislation Moves to the House Floor

Two anti-gun bills are eligible to be heard on the House floor as early as tomorrow, March 8.  Please contact your state Representative immediately ...

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee Hearing This Week

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee Hearing This Week

Three anti-gun bills are scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 25, and ...

Hawaii: Ivory Bill Scheduled for Senate Vote on Monday

Hunting  

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Hawaii: Ivory Bill Scheduled for Senate Vote on Monday

On Monday, February 22, Senate Bill 2647, is scheduled for a Senate floor vote.  It is imperative that you ...

Maryland: It’s 2013 All Over Again

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Maryland: It’s 2013 All Over Again

House Speaker Mike Busch, Senate President Mike Miller, and Attorney General Brian Frosh, the same officials who passed ...

Hawaii: Two Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearing Tomorrow

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Hawaii: Two Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearing Tomorrow

Tomorrow, February 10, two anti-gun bills are scheduled to be heard in the Hawaii State Legislature.  The first ...

Delaware: Legislation to Prevent the Auction of Firearms by law Enforcement Sent to Senate Floor

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Delaware: Legislation to Prevent the Auction of Firearms by law Enforcement Sent to Senate Floor

Yesterday, January 20, Senate Bill 19 was passed out of committee.  Current law allows Delaware Law Enforcement to ...

Delaware: Radical Ivory Ban Legislation Alive and Moving in Senate

Hunting  

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Delaware: Radical Ivory Ban Legislation Alive and Moving in Senate

Yesterday, Senate Bill 156 was released from the Senate Banking and Business Committee and will be considered on the Senate ...

Massachusetts: Ivory Ban Legislation to be Heard In Committee Next Week

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Massachusetts: Ivory Ban Legislation to be Heard In Committee Next Week

The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture will hold a hearing on Tuesday, November 17, at ...

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.