#ITAR

Until recently, U.S. laws and regulations prevented most commercial sales and exports of firearms classified under the National Firearms Act (NFA). However, changes to ITAR, USML, and State Department classifications in 2020 opened the exportation of silencers (sound suppressors) to commercial customers. If you thought navigating the NFA as a U.S. customer was confusing, exporting controlled items like silencers takes the process to a new level. EasyExport is offering a system to suppressor manufacturers that will streamline the procedures needed for international sales. Details can be found below.

SureFire just released some very positive news, both for them as an exporting company and their customers overseas.

About a year ago we reported on the possibility of easing the burden on Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders in terms of the International Trafficking of Arms (ITAR) regulatory requirements. ITAR for FFLs is inherently confusing: while dealers usually aren’t required to obtain an ITAR license, manufacturers can be subject to the regulations, even if they have no plans to export any products. For a small FFL manufacturer who mainly engages in gunsmithing or builds a few guns, a $3,000 fee for not exporting a single item can cut into their bottom line.

The French Army has selected the SCAR-H PR as their new Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle.

A recent article from Forbes.com indicated some concerning issue regarding federal government overreach. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is demanding the names and data of Obsidian 4 App users from Apple and Google (Android).

Huffington Post posted an article demonizing military grade night vision in the hands of civilians. The article is full of fear and ignorance and grossly misinforms their readers. I am an ardent fan of night vision as are many others here at TFB. I know our Editors Pete and Tom both have night vision. Dick Lidell is a fellow fan of NODs (Night Observation Devices). I will explain how night vision has many more uses beyond “killing” which Huffington’s post claims.

A huge market opens as IPSC ( International Practical Shooting Confederation) update their rule books in January 2019.

If you’ve purchased weaponlights, lasers, body armor, night vision or other “specialty equipment” related to the firearms industry, the term ITAR Restricted may have made an appearance on your documentation or on product websites. The International Traffic In Arms Regulations or ITAR and the categories outlined in the United States Munitions List or USML is a way to prevent certain technologies from ending up in enemy hands and used against U.S. or Allied Forces. Zero arguments there.

Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) are required to jump through various hoops to be able to sell guns as a business. From zoning laws, to insurance to National Firearms Act (NFA) payments, and to detailed record keeping, license holders need to be in compliance or risk losing their ability to transfer firearms. Going a step further, manufacturers of small arms have an additional set of rules to follow and records to keep. Not in the least being the International Traffic Of Arms Regulations (ITAR), a program meant to keep weapons from being illegally exported into the hands of enemies of the United States.

What restrictions and regulations are placed on the ownership and use of night vision equipment? This question finds few real answers, most of which are often foggy at best. The primary regulations that effect night vision observation devices (NODS) and Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASERs) are International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Both regulations control the laws regarding, manufacturing, sales and distribution of applicable technology. Most of the “laws” about sales are instead manufacturers’ policies as opposed to legal requirements.

A new Rifle Chassis from Magpul will make this year’s spring warmer and more welcome than ever.

According to the website Augen Geradeaus (meaning Eyes Straight Ahead) the German-American company Sig Sauer is now out of the competition for the successor of the HK G36 rifle for the Germany Army.

Die Welt (“The World”) is a German National daily newspaper, and according to their information the tender to replace the current Bundeswehr (Germany Army) HK G36 contains a peculiar detail that the replacement rifle must not contain any ITAR regulated parts.

The current US administration is looking to release many of the restrictions on weapons exports, according to a recent article at Reuters. Currently, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) limit the ability for US arms companies to sell weapons overseas. However, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to change the jurisdiction for most arms exports from the State Department to the Commerce Department, which would likely make such exports substantially easier. The State Department’s focus is primarily on security and stability, which means they generally err on the side of less exports rather than more, but the Commerce Department is primarily focused on facilitating international trade. This strongly suggests that arms exports as handled by the Commerce Department would be facilitated by the agency, rather than obstructed, as the trend has been under the State Department.

In the past two months ITAR has gotten the limelight due to the DDTC’s issuing new guidance on ITAR. You can refresh yourself by clicking here and reading about it.