Dems Move to Block Export Rule Change that Could Boost Gun Industry

By Chris Eger

While U.S. gun and ammo makers looking to export stand to see a boost in overseas sales as a result of a planned cut in federal red tape, Democrats on Capitol Hill are determined to block such a move. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Lawmakers in the U.S. House on Thursday agreed to a measure that would derail a planned change to the dense federal regulations on gun exports.
The move, an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act — the must-pass funding bill for the military — was agreed to in a Democrat-heavy 225 to 205 vote. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Norma Torres, D-CA, the proposal would block President Trump’s nearly complete transfer of several weapons categories from export licensing controlled by the State Department to the more relaxed purview of the Commerce Department.
“When it comes to keeping firearms out of the hands of terrorists and drug cartels, we should err on the side of caution,” said Torres, who had previously introduced her legislation as a stand-alone bill that failed to make it out of committee.
The three categories of the State Department’s United States Munitions List — those dealing with small arms including firearms, close assault weapons, combat shotguns and ammunition and ordnance —

Source: Guns.com