The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security will cancel all existing licenses for firearms exports to nongovernment end users in countries identified by the Department of State as high-risk destinations.
The move is part of changes to the agency’s licensing policy for exports of firearms, ammunition and related components, which are expected to take effect on May 30.
According to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the amendments aim to prevent outlaws from accessing American-made weapons to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
“Too often, firearms exports fall into the wrong hands,” the secretary said in a statement. “To combat this, we’re taking strategic, targeted actions, including … increasing scrutiny and tracking of all firearms exports.”
Changes to the rule also include implementing tighter scrutiny and monitoring of all firearms exports and reducing the validity period of general licenses from four years to one year.
The Commerce Department said all holders of licenses revoked as a result of the new rule may resubmit applications, which will be reviewed under the latest standard. Public feedback will be accepted until July 1.
