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The
Commerce Department did not provide further details for the
pause, which also includes shotguns and optical sights, but said
an urgent review will assess the "risk of firearms being
diverted to entities or activities that promote regional
instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities."
The Commerce Department declined to comment beyond the posting
on its website.
The halt covers most of the guns and ammunition that could be
purchased in a U.S. gun store, said Johanna Reeves, a lawyer who
specializes in export controls and firearms with the law firm
Reeves & Dola in Washington.
Reeves said she had not seen the Commerce Department take such a
sweeping action like this before. "For sure they have individual
country policies – but nothing like this," she said.
Export licences for Ukraine and Israel, as well as some other
close allies, will be exempted from the temporary halt in
exports.
U.S. companies that sell firearms, including Sturm Ruger & Co.,
Smith & Wesson Brands and Vista Outdoor, could be impacted by
the export ban.
Overseas customers include distributors and stores that sell
firearms.
Exporters can continue to submit license requests during the
pause, but they will be "held without action" until the pause is
lifted.
The pause does not affect previously issued export licenses,
Commerce said.
For shipments to government clients, exporters must name
specific end users, while applications with unnamed government,
military, and police users will be "returned without action."
(Reporting by Chris Sanders and Karen Freifeld; Editing by
Sandra Maler)
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