Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) joined nearly 100 of his colleagues in Congress to urge President Joe Biden (D) and his administration to lift the pause on civilian firearm exports.
As Rep. Rutherford mentioned, a lift of the pause would “allow law-abiding civilians around the world to exercise their freedoms.”
The members of Congress began their letter to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce (DOC) as well as the Under Secretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to make known their concerns surrounding the new policy.
I joined @repmarkgreen & 85 of my colleagues to urge the Biden administration to lift their pause on civilian firearm exports to allow law-abiding civilians around the world to exercise their freedoms. pic.twitter.com/xyVE2AI5MP
— Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) November 27, 2023
“We are greatly concerned with the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) broad decision to pause the issuance of new export licenses involving certain firearms, related components, and ammunition,” wrote the lawmakers. “This policy went into effect without any advance notice and covers a vast range of items and end users. Such sweeping action by BIS is unprecedented. Broad mandates, no comment period, few details, and the massive caveat that BIS retains the authority to do virtually anything else it deems appropriate are not characteristics of a democratic republic.”
Rep. Rutherford and the legislators continued to make their case, stating that “there will always be a need” for people to defend themselves.
“As long as evil persists, there will always be a need for good people to defend themselves and their loved ones. The need for the Second Amendment was not limited to the American Revolution nor the American Republic. Every person has a right to self-defense,” the 87 representatives wrote.
“Not only does BIS’s pause on firearms export licenses leave people even more vulnerable, but it will also push buyers to look elsewhere to meet consumer demand. This will drive the industry away from the control and influence of the United States. Refusing to issue these licenses will create a vacuum in the market, one that may be filled by the very actors BIS is trying to thwart,” the lawmakers said.
They concluded by demanding that the BIS and the DOC reverse course.
“We demand that BIS and DOC end this ridiculous hypocrisy and continue the issuance of export licenses for firearms, related components, and ammunition. Continuing this pause will only weaken law-abiding civilians and hand criminal actors a monopoly of force. We also urge that BIS’s final assessment not deprive innocent people of the means for self-defense,” said the legislators.
Including Rutherford and Representative Mark Green (R-TN) – the main author – the letter was signed by members of Congress such as Florida Representatives Aaron Bean (R), Neal Dunn (R), and Greg Steube (R).
