Senator Warren, other Democrats ask Commerce to extend gun export pause, increase oversight - letter (updated)
24/01/2024 15:41
(Adds details, background in paragraphs 2-5)
By Mike Stone
WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats,
including Senator Elizabeth Warren, again asked the U.S.
Commerce Department to curb assault weapon exports and increase
oversight of gun exports after a Trump-era rule change eased
firearms export laws, according to a letter sent on Tuesday and
seen by Reuters.
The Commerce Department began a 90-day pause in an October
order to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities
or activities that promote regional instability, violate human
rights, or fuel criminal activities."
The pause, which includes shotguns and optical sights, ends
on Thursday. The Commerce Department could decide to make the
halt on export licenses permanent, return to previous practices,
or impose other permanent restrictions.
The letter, which was signed by Warren and Senator Richard
Durbin as well as U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Norma
Torres was sent to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It voiced
support for returning export authority oversight to the
Department of State from Commerce - something which changed
under then-President Donald Trump's tenure.
In addition, the lawmakers asked Commerce to extend its
review, declare publicly that it intends to curb exports, commit
to better post-shipment oversight, and shorten the period export
licenses are valid from four years to one year.
(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Jonathan
Oatis)
((mike.stone1@thomsonreuters.com; https://twitter.com/MichaelStone;))