Newsletter: Trump Pauses Gun Export Licensing

Gun exporters are as soon as once more feeling the damage.

Just some months after the Biden Administration ended its pause on some firearms exports, the Trump Administration has imposed an excellent broader freeze on export licensing. A number of sources advised The Reload this time the pause got here with out warning, continues to be in place with out clarification, and it’s not clear when it will likely be lifted. Nevertheless, the gun business in all probability isn’t the primary goal of the processing stoppage this time round both.

Try my members’ piece on why that’s and why it doesn’t change the very fact gun exporters are more likely to be a few of the hardest hit anyway.

The courts had been busy once more this week however on some extra rarely-litigated points. A federal decide blocked Maine’s ready interval. In the meantime, an Arizona decide knocked out legal punishments over failing to report a misplaced or stolen gun quick sufficient in a single county.

Contributing Author Jake Fogleman additionally does a deep dive into the stark transformation Colorado’s invoice concentrating on in style weapons just like the AR-15 underwent earlier than passing the state senate. Plus, Second Modification scholar David Kopel joins the podcast to debate what would possibly come of Trump’s government order on weapons. And we’ve a ton of tales down within the hyperlinks, together with information that Trump has expanded his pardon of January sixth defendants to even embody gun crimes that weren’t straight associated to the Capitol Riot.

Trump Admin Freezes Firearms Export License Processing By Stephen Gutowski

The Division of Commerce stopped issuing gun export licenses across the starting of the month, based on a number of sources who spoke with The Reload.

The division’s Bureau of Trade and Safety (BIS), which oversees firearms exporting, issued a maintain with out motion order for all export licenses on February fifth. It did so with out warning, public clarification, and even non-public communication with lots of the affected firms. Trade insiders stated the entire freeze is not like something they’d seen earlier than.

“That is unprecedented,” Larry Keane, common counsel of the Nationwide Taking pictures Sports activities Basis (NSSF), advised The Reload. “That’s by no means been carried out beforehand when there was a change in administration.”

“This type of act, I haven’t seen it earlier than with modifications in administration,” Johanna Reeves, a lawyer who has spent a long time working with firms on the intersection of firearms legislation and federal export controls, advised The Reload. “I feel it’s actually sort of nuts what’s occurring proper now. I imply, it’s nuts!”

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Evaluation: Trump Freeze More likely to Hit Gun Exporters Significantly Arduous [Member Exclusive]By Stephen Gutowski

President Donald Trump’s administration has put a blanket pause on most exports, however firearms firms are in all probability going to endure greater than others.

Beginning February fifth, the Division of Commerce’s Bureau of Trade and Safety (BIS) stopped processing new export licenses. That impacts all gun exports to all international locations. BIS gave no warning that the pause would occur and has supplied no clarification or justification for it.

The freeze comes simply months after the top of a earlier pause applied by former President Joe Biden within the final yr of his time period.

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Federal Decide Blocks Maine’s Gun Ready IntervalBy Jake Fogleman

Requiring blanket delays on firearm gross sales violates the Second Modification.

That’s based on US District Courtroom Decide Lance Walker. On Thursday, Walker issued a preliminary injunction towards Maine’s 72-hour ready interval requirement for gun gross sales in a problem introduced by a number of Maine gun shops and particular person gun homeowners. He discovered that the necessary ready interval lacked a legitimate historic analogue and have to be blocked.

“Considered dispassionately, the Act employs no normal in any respect to justify disarming people, not to mention a typical that may be described as slim, goal, or particular,” Walker wrote in Beckwith v. Frey. “Consequently, I discover that Plaintiffs have demonstrated that they’re more likely to succeed on the deserves of their Second Modification declare.”

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Arizona Decide Tosses Felony Penalties for Not Reporting Misplaced or Stolen Weapons Quick Sufficient By Stephen Gutowski

A state decide has dominated Pima County, Arizona, can’t fantastic residents $1,000 for failing to report misplaced or stolen weapons inside 48 hours.

On Tuesday, Arizona Superior Courtroom Decide Greg Sakall ordered a everlasting injunction towards the county’s ordinance. He sided with gun-rights plaintiffs who argued the measure violated a state legislation designed to stop localities from implementing their very own gun restrictions. He even allowed plaintiffs to hunt lawyer charges from the county.

“[T]he ultimate judgment shall embody a everlasting injunction towards the implementation or enforcement of Pima County Ordinance 2024-2,” Decide Sakall wrote in ACDL v. Pima County.

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Podcast: What Will Trump’s Govt Order on Weapons Ship? (Ft. David Kopel) By Stephen Gutowski

President Donald Trump issued an government order that critiques federal gun coverage with the intention of implementing some modifications.

Nevertheless, it’s unclear precisely what modifications would possibly come from the order. So, we’ve received Second Modification scholar David Kopel on the present to attempt to give some readability to what’s potential.

You possibly can hearken to the present in your favourite podcasting app or by clicking right here. Video of the episode is out there on our YouTube channel.

Plus, Contributing Author Jake Fogleman and I focus on a ruling out of the Tenth Circuit the place a panel as soon as once more determined {that a} single mom who wrote a nasty examine 17 years in the past will be disarmed for all times. We additionally focus on a Trump-appointed decide out of Hawaii who dominated that the Aloha state can proceed to disclaim adults underneath the age of 21 entry to firearms. Lastly, we wrap up with protection of an Illinois state court docket ruling towards the state’s FOID card legislation, Trump’s Second Modification government order, and a few fast hits from across the nation.

Audio right here. Video right here.

Evaluation: Colorado’s Sweeping Semi-Auto Ban Will get Novel Overhaul on Technique to Seemingly Adoption [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman

Colorado Democrats’ first-of-its-kind semi-automatic firearm ban superior after a marathon session in its first ground debate, however not earlier than being basically altered.

The Colorado Senate handed SB 25-003 on second studying at 2 a.m. Friday morning. It did so simply barely, by an 18-15 vote, and solely after the invoice’s sponsors made vital concessions on the behest of Governor Jared Polis’ (D.) workplace. The invoice’s core provisions banning the manufacture and sale of semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols with removable magazines stay intact, however 5 pages price of latest language now present an avenue for civilians to proceed acquiring them underneath a fancy permit-to-purchase regime. With the amendments authorized, SB 003 now seems effectively on its method to ultimate approval within the Senate later this week and will glide via the way more progressive Colorado Home.

With Governor Polis’s considerations now ostensibly addressed, the invoice has a transparent path to changing into legislation. Right here’s a take a look at what the brand new amendments would imply for Colorado gun homeowners.

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Outdoors The Reload

Justice Division broadens Trump’s Jan. 6 clemency because it strikes to drop gun circumstances | Politico | By Kyle Cheney

Meet a few of America’s latest gun homeowners | New York Occasions | By Jenna Russell, Emily Rhyne and Noah Throop

Mexico threatens to escalate US gunmakers lawsuit with terror fees | The Guardian | By Agence France-Press

Will the Trump DOJ Reverse Course in Main Gun Instances? | Duke Heart for Firearms Regulation | By Andrew Willinger

Maryland lawmakers once more push state excise tax on weapons and ammo | Maryland Issues | By William J. Ford

GOA Takes Problem to Philly’s ‘Ghost Gun’ Ban to Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom | Bearing Arms | By Tom Knighton

That’s it for this week in weapons.

If you wish to hear professional evaluation of those tales and extra, be sure you seize a Reload membership to get our unique evaluation publication each Sunday!

I’ll see you all subsequent week.

Thanks,

Stephen Gutowski Founder The Reload