This bit of news seems to have popped up suddenly and with little explanation. The federal government quietly issued a policy change yesterday halting the export of most civilian firearms, ammunition, and related accessories to much of the world. They also suspended the issuance of new firearms export licenses. There are some exceptions to the ban, but several of the world’s biggest importers of American firearms will be affected. The order was issued by the Commerce Department (?) and the reason given was rather vague, citing national security concerns and the need to ensure firearms aren’t “diverted” to hostile actors. (The Messenger)

The U.S. has suspended issuing export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition for 90 days for all non-government parties, citing national security and foreign policy concerns.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday said it would stop issuing new export licenses for the commercial sale of firearms and pause the acceptance of requests for export assistance to most non-government users.

The pause applies to most civilian firearms, including semi-automatic and non-automatic firearms, shotguns and ammunition. Johanna Reeves, a lawyer who specializes in export controls and firearms, told Reuters the halt covers most of the guns and ammunition available in a typical U.S. gun store.

The review being undertaken by the Commerce Department is supposedly investigating whether American civilian firearms are winding up on the black market in places such as Brazil and Guatemala (among many others). They claim to be concerned about guns winding up in the hands of  people that “promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities.”

Exceptions are being made for Canada and the UK, as well as Israel and Ukraine, among other allies. Why Ukraine would make the list when the black market for weapons there is already a major concern is anybody’s guess, but that’s clearly how Washington rolls these days. The export ban will apply to rifles, shotguns, and handguns, including those that aren’t even semiautomatic. The export of ammunition for all of those firearms is similarly being halted.

Keep in mind that this ban is being enacted by the same Biden administration that abandoned literally billions of dollars worth of actual weapons of war in Afghanistan. Those weapons are already flooding the black market and showing up in the hands of some of the worst actors, including those currently attacking Israel. But God forbid they get their hands on a Winchester .30-30.

This is going to have an immediate impact on American firearms manufacturers including Smith & Wesson and Sig Sauer. Granted, we don’t want American firearms falling into the hands of bad actors anywhere, including here at home. But the nations requesting and accepting these imports are responsible for how they are handled and secured once they arrive at their destination. None of this is the responsibility of the manufacturers, but they will wind up being the ones that are punished. And to what purpose? Ukrainian farmers have been dragging away Russian battle tanks with tractors since the invasion began but now we’re counting how many squirrel rifles are out on the streets?

I just hope this isn’t a test run for something bigger that this administration has in mind. Once you begin shutting down the free flow of commerce in the firearms industry abroad, how much of a leap is it to picture that happening at home? Call me paranoid if you like, but I’ve been watching these jokers for too long now to put anything past them.