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?"