Politics

‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Is Lowering Global Restrictions on Gun Trade Good Policy or Ill-Advised?

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Obama administration has drawn the ire of U.S. homeland-security and law-enforcement agencies following proposals to relax export restrictions on high-powered firearms:

The agencies, in internal memos viewed by The Wall Street Journal, warn the changes could help arm drug cartels and terrorists and make it harder for the U.S. to crack down on gun-trafficking.

The arms proposal is part of a broader overhaul of U.S. export rules sought by Mr. Obama, with the goal of helping domestic manufacturers compete in global markets, as well as improving U.S. national security by focusing controls on higher-risk items and enhancing the capabilities of allies.

Mr. Obama has said he wants to double U.S. exports of all types by the end of 2014, a policy push that also includes bilateral free-trade agreements and a plan to reorganize government agencies that promote trade.

Gun manufacturers and Second Amendment advocates often find themselves at odds with this president, despite the boom in gun sales under his administration. But can they be opposed to this plan to promote free-trade and move close-assault weapons, sniper rifles, combat shotguns and ammunition from the “strict controls” of the Munitions List to a “lesser controlled” Commerce list.

WSJ reports that aides to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, say the changes would “create vulnerabilities that will likely be exploited by rogue exporters, front companies, foreign intelligence services and extremists.” Concerns of arms going from the U.S. into the wrong hands are at an all-time high following the ATF “Fast and Furious” scandal that led to the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.

The panel on “Real News” took on the proposal Wednesday, questioning whether lowering such global restrictions on gun trade is good policy.

“We can’t expect to know where every single gun is going to go,” Buck Sexton said in regards to concerns over loosening of restrictions of high-powered firearms. “For me–” Buck said hesitantly, “this seems like a good thing.”

“The idea of a global fast and furious doesn’t come up in your mind?” responded S.E. Cupp. Cupp went on to say “I’m a capitalist, I’m a gun fan, I’m against overburdening regulations.

“But aren’t you a little suspicious?”

Comments (27)

  • thestorm
    Posted on May 4, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Since when has bho wanted to do anything to help arms dealers? Is anyone questioning the motive behind this? All he has to do is wait a month or two & determine that American arms are killing people because they got into the wrong hands & no more American arms. holder has a great track record of getting arms,ammo & explosives outside the U.S.,we don’t need another law as long as we have holder.

    Report Post »  
    • ChangeUSBack
      Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:37pm

      Agreed. I am thinking they are going to leave the “law” alone and attack guns with regulations instead. Use the EPA, USDA, FDA, SEC, or even more likely, ObamaCare.

      Actually just yesterday this came up in conversation where a friend told me they were being asked by their doctor if they were a gun owner.

      Wow… wouldn’t it be keen if, to keep your freedom, you had to procure health care on the black market too?

      Sorry… it’s just getting harder and harder to keep from being a sour, jaded, cynic.

      Report Post » ChangeUSBack  
  • USNVet68
    Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:54am

    If someone wants to get a firearm it is quite easy in in places like NYC where a Nazi type regime tries to keep the poor or minorities from having “legal” gun ownership

    Ever notice how the poorest areas with the strict gun controls have the most violence ?

    As long as a police officer has a firearm a criminal can get it just like WW2 when the French resistence took guns away from the German soldiers that they managed to kill with a knfe or bat.

    Box cutters did an amazing job bringing Ameirca to its knees because Nazi senators refused to allow the flight crew or officers of the law to carry a firearm on planes

    Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:52pm

    Get rid of brady bill Americans should also be allowed to own tanks fighter jets and even missles if they want.

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • ChangeUSBack
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 4:27pm

      Why not? If you can afford it–and most of those things are legal in many states with the right taxes and paperwork. Have you priced even the cheapest transferable automatic firearms? Not to mention the cost of the ammunition? At roughly $1/round, (depending on the caliber, of course) how long can the average gun-owner afford to shoot a gun that runs around 700 rounds-per-minute?

      It’s already against the law to shoot at people. Why make laws that make breaking the law illegal? I have never had the desire, but I have to think if I am planning on going out and killing a bunch of people, I am not going to be worried about breaking laws against obtaining the guns I am going to use.

      Banning anything just stocks the shelves of the black market…

      Sorry, I suppose this is a little off topic.

      Report Post » ChangeUSBack  
  • rsanchez1
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 2:50am

    I thought the Department of Homeland Security would be fine with this. Definitely doesn’t seem to be a problem for the Department of Justice.

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  • trueamerican40
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:28am

    The only motive that Obama has for this is HATE; hatred for all the Americans who have the best guns in the world. He knows he can never eliminate the 2nd. Amendment. So let’s place them in the hands of the real evil ones in the middle east and money lusting drug cartels…level the playing field. The devil is using this guy to destroy America all across the board.

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • loggs14
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:20pm

    When are the media actually going to get someone that knows something about firearms on their show. I agree something seems weird here… but be clear US weapons are not black market weapons…
    In Somalia today you can buy an AK for less than the cost a bottle of Jack Daniels Whiskey in the US. AK’s are used by most of the third world militaries and extremist groups, like muslim terrorists. US grade basic M4 sells for $1,000. This is all one thing. One you talk about sniper rifles or Barrets, these are not mass produced… a US grade sniper rifle with optic is worth $8,000. The Barrett is $14,000. The russian cheap alternative used on crazy world is SVD which I can buy imported to the US for $400-$500… which means less than $100 in the res to fhte world…

    One thing is clear US weapons only end in bad hands by being resold by our allies or Holder sending them across the border to his friends in the drug cartels.

    Any time Obama is trying to monkey with weapons its because he and clinton are trying band something with the UN… never happen… many states would consider sucession..

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:58pm

    Obama tightens Imports of FireArms… but promotes Exports… which would lower the US Supply… and arm potential enemies.

    Does Satan never Sleep?

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:51am

      How does it lower the U.S. supply? Does exporting cars lower the U.S. supply? No, because the industry can increase its production capacity to keep up with demand, and so can the arms industry.

      Report Post »  
    • Norm D. Plume
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:49am

      You’re almost there…

      By opening the export market, that puts upward pressure on the prices of firearms to U.S. customers, in the short-medium term.

      If this goes through (is it an executive order, or legislation?) look for there to be grants and loans and the like from Uncle Sucker to foreign nations, to promote their purchases of U.S. arms. This is all well and good for the gun companies, but think of what those actions will do to firearms prices in the U.S.

      That is the end game.

      Report Post » Norm D. Plume  
  • llotus
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:57pm

    If he wants to do something for the people…………..allow people to open carry without a permit. The criminals already have that rite. Why not law biding citizens? Okla. almost had it but looks like they are going to let it slip away thanks to reprsentative steve martin the house sponser. Lotus.

    Report Post »  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:44pm

    Sarah Cupp looked great in that V neck tonight. What was the question

    Report Post »  
  • RLTW
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:39pm

    I suppose if one is building his civilian national security force off shore it makes perfect sense.

    Report Post »  
    • Norm D. Plume
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:53am

      It would be easier, in that case, to work with a foreign supplier. Gun companies in the U.S. would be too likely to spring a leak, at least in their public financials, which could cause the too-curious to go sniffing around trying to find out why 50,000 main battle rifles were sold to someone in a foreign country.

      Report Post » Norm D. Plume  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:22pm

    Everyone needs to remember what State Senator Obama supported, “I know we can’t ban guns because of our 2nd Amendment, but we can make it prohibitive for people to want one, we can make ammunition more expensive.” In the healthcare bitll, rates will go up if you own a gun, and for poorer people, that may be the deciding factor if you have a gun in the house. And the ammuniton is already under attack. There are still movements to put additives to gunpower to make it breakdown and become inert after a few years, that will keep people from hoarding ammo. It also raises the price, they want to ban lead, which the alternative makes ammo more expensive.

    So it’s not a straght attack on guns, but what good is a gun if you can’t get ammuniton. Shoot, after he gets done, you can buy a .50 cal machine gun, but no ammo.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:07pm

    Someone needs watch the other hand- I smell a rat on this plan..

    Report Post »  
  • Fubared
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:04pm

    Very suspicious. All no doubt going to muslim nations.

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:56am

      Who cares where they are going? Gun ownership is a right. Isn’t that what every good American believes? And if it’s a right, it’s not just a right for Americans or citizens. Rights aren’t a present that the government can give you. You are born having rights that the government can only protect or take away.

      Report Post »  

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