Page 18 - American Rifleman (February 2020)

POLITICAL REPORT

Trump Administration Completes

Pro-Gun Regulatory Reform

hanks to President Trump, small components; making small springs and screws for
businesses and individual gun owners guns exposed your business to heavy regulation,
T will no longer suffer the longstanding regardless of whether you actually exported
roadblocks imposed by America’s Cold War- anything outside the United States. As the costs
era “export” regime for firearms, ammunition of regulatory compliance climbed, so did prices.
and related accessories. The chronology of this The problems for American gun owners
transformation—and its relevance to Second only increased when the Obama administration
Amendment rights—warrants some attention. folded gunsmithing into its regulatory defini-
As with most bureaucratic endeavors, tion of “manufacturing.” This maneuver trig-
America’s export rules were built upon profes- gered State Department registration for those
sions of good intent; our country wished to performing common gunsmithing operations
protect its most sensitive military technology on existing firearms. Because many gunsmiths
By Jason Ouimet from falling into enemy hands. But the export could not afford ITAR’s registration and compli-
Executive Director, rules themselves ignored the overlap that ance costs, the result was not only foreseeable,
NRA-ILA naturally exists when goods are capable of both but intentional: many gunsmiths and gunsmith-
military and non-military uses. Radar systems, for ing schools were quickly driven out of business.
example, are commonly utilized by civilian and As the USML’s scope extended beyond
military vessels. Another obvious example: fire- physical items and onto “technical data” about
arms and ammunition. Items capable of dual use items, the government began to regulate blue-
YOUR MEMBERSHIP (i.e., military and non-military use) were therefore prints, diagrams and service manuals. The State
DUES ARE NOT termed “dual-use” items by export control pro- Department also began treating the online pub-
ENOUGH. fessionals. This should have been simple enough. lication of such information as the equivalent of
Unfortunately, the bureaucratic hostility toward an “export” requiring prior approval. Before too
If you want to DEFEND your firearms and ammunition soon crept in. long—and unconcerned by the Constitutional
right to own and carry a Because most household items could—at implications—the State Department was threat-
firearm … least theoretically—be stretched to resemble ening to flex ITAR jurisdiction over everyone
If your FREEDOM to hunt and something with military potential, the export law who dared to “publish” a parts diagram or
shoot is important to you … slapped the strictest regulations and oversight handloading formula online.
onto inherently military equipment. By limiting The Trump administration reforms are poised
Then you need to SUPPORT bureaucracy’s reach to warfighting equipment, to finally relieve these bureaucratic pressures.
the NRA Institute for politicians reassured American industry of its Most firearms and ammunition, as well as their
Legislative Action. continued dominance in foreign markets, free of parts, components and accessories, would now
We are the only arm of overly burdensome red tape. Export oversight be managed under the business-friendly CCL
NRA specifically charged of these items was ultimately delegated to two instead of the oppressive USML. The aforemen-
with defending your departments: the U.S. State Department and tioned problems for non-exporting manufactur-
Second Amendment the U.S. Commerce Department. ers, gunsmiths and those who publish technical
freedoms on Capitol Hill, The U.S. State Department was tasked with data about such items on the web would no
and in state legislatures and administering the International Trafficking in longer exist. In the absence of such weights,
courtrooms across America. Arms Regulations (ITAR), where regulated items America’s exporting manufacturers are free to run
were itemized on the U.S. Munitions List (USML). more competitively among the global markets.
Visit nraila.org to support Meanwhile, the U.S. Commerce Department When it comes to the business of firearms,
NRA-ILA today!
used the Export Administration Regulations America’s regulatory approach is finally returning
to regulate items via the agency’s Commerce to its baseline commitment: American security.
Control List (CCL). Exports will continue to require licenses and
Although regulated items on the USML multi-agency review to safeguard against
were reportedly pared-down to those that harm, alongside compliance with the importing
“provide the United States with a critical military country’s laws. Regulations that favored
or intelligence advantage” or, in the case of unscrupulous overseas competitors weren’t
weapons, “are inherently for military end use,” what America needed—our security interests
the government increasingly restricted whatever are much better served when foreign arms sales
made the USML list. One official described it as are handled by U.S. companies possessing an
building “a taller fence around a smaller yard.” unrivaled record of compliance, transparency
Compliance became a veritable minefield. Any and freedom to perform at their best.
business hoping to manufacture the most basic With export reform,
NRA-ILA: (800) 392-8683 component of an item on the USML was forced President Trump has
NRA-ILA website: nraila.org to register with the State Department and pay a provided yet another win
For related articles, go to $2,250 annual fee. These regulatory burdens soon for Second Amendment
nrapublications.org. fell upon every small business making firearm advocates.
16 FEBRUARY 2020 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN