Trump to ease rules on gun exports: report

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to ease rules on American manufacturers selling small guns and assault rifles to buyers overseas.

An administration official confirmed to The Hill that the State Department is working to move the U.S. government’s authorization of exports of already commercially available, nonmilitary firearms and ammunition to the Commerce Department’s jurisdiction, and keeping exports of military grade items under State Department jurisdiction. 

{mosads}

Administration officials told Reuters that the proposed rule change, headed to the White House budget office in the coming days, would cut regulatory red tape, boost U.S. gun exports and create jobs.

Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin (Md.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday asking him not to make changes to International Trafficking in Arms regulations for small arms, light weapons and associated equipment and ammunition without carefully considering the consequences.

“As you are aware, combat firearms and ammunition are uniquely lethal; they are easily spread and easily modified, and are the primary means of injury, death and destruction in civil and military conflicts around the world,” the senators wrote. “As such, they should be subject to more – not less – rigorous export controls and oversight.”

The Department of Commerce directed questions to the White House. In an email, a White House official said “the administration is working through the interagency process with the State Department and the Department of Commerce to ensure that U.S. industries have every advantage in the global marketplace, while at the same time ensuring the responsible export of arms.” 

Updated: 6:35 p.m.