Combatting Exectutive ITAR Overreach
A bipartisan group of lawmakers have debuted a proposal that would transfer export oversight for most gunsmiths from the State Department in an effort to curb a possible $2,250 annual fee to stay in operation.
The bicameral bill, introduced on Sept. 27 by lawmakers that include two Texas Democrats as House sponsors, would transfer regulatory responsibility on the export of non-military firearms to the U.S. Department of Commerce and comes in response to a change by the State Department that could force even hobbyist gunsmiths to register and pay a hefty annual fee to stay in operation.
“The Obama administration is continually making attempts at restricting the rights of law-abiding Americans to own guns,†said Senate sponsor Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., in a statement. “This unduly targets gunsmiths, most of whom make little to no income and simply do it for the love of the trade, or are small business owners who will be negatively impacted by this burdensome cost. This bill protects both our Second Amendment rights and our small businesses from government overreach.â€
Daines’ bill, the Export Control Reform Act of 2016, filed as S.3405, moves export licensing control, oversight and enforcement for commercial and sporting firearms and related items from the State Department to the Department of Commerce. Commerce already licenses the export of shotguns and shot shells. Supporters of the measure argue this would allow non-military small arms to be regulated like any other commercial business.
Read the rest of the article: http://www.guns.com/2016/10/04/bill-to-protect-gunsmiths-from-new-regulations-introduced/