Senator Warren, other Democrats ask Commerce to extend gun export pause, increase oversight - letter
January 24, 2024 at 10:54 am EST
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, again asked the U.S. Commerce Department to curb assault weapon exports and increase oversight of gun exports after a Trump-era rule change eased firearms export laws, according to a letter sent on Tuesday and seen by Reuters.
The Commerce Department began a 90-day pause in an October order to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities."
The pause, which includes shotguns and optical sights, ends on Thursday. The Commerce Department could decide to make the halt on export licenses permanent, return to previous practices, or impose other permanent restrictions.
The letter, which was signed by Warren and Senator Richard Durbin as well as U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Norma Torres was sent to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It voiced support for returning export authority oversight to the Department of State from Commerce - something which changed under then-President Donald Trump's tenure.
In addition, the lawmakers asked Commerce to extend its review, declare publicly that it intends to curb exports, commit to better post-shipment oversight, and shorten the period export licenses are valid from four years to one year.
(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. is principally engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of firearms to domestic customers. The Company operates through two segments: firearms and castings. The firearms segment manufactures and sells rifles, pistols, and revolvers principally to a number of federally-licensed, independent wholesale distributors primarily located in the United States. The castings segment manufactures and sells steel investment castings and metal injection molding parts. The Company primarily manufactures firearm products, under the Ruger name and trademark. It also manufactures and sells accessories and replacement parts for its firearms. In addition, the Company manufactures lever-action rifles under the Marlin name and trademark. Its firearms products are sold through a select number of independent wholesale distributors, principally to the commercial sporting market. Its design and manufacturing operations are located in the United States.
STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. 
