Lummis Bill Blocks State Department Interference in Collectible Firearm Sale
Washington,
Sep 29 -
Today, U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) introduced H.R. 6240, the Collectable Firearms Protection Act. The bill would prevent the State Department from interfering with the legal importation of surplus collectable firearms from South Korea that were originally made in the U.S.
“The State Department does not have the authority to deny legal firearms to law-abiding citizens. These firearms have historical value, are legal, and their importation is already highly regulated by the Justice Department. There is no basis for State Department involvement. This is not about diplomacy or foreign policy -- this is a domestic issue and a Second Amendment issue,” Lummis said.
“The right of law-abiding American citizens to import these historical firearms should not be complicated with unnecessary over-regulation,” said Donnelly. “This common-sense change simply lets the Justice Department do its job and removes the State Department from the process.”
Background:
Last year, the administration approved the importation and sale of collectible, American-made M1 Garand rifles and M1 carbines from South Korea. However, the administration reversed itself early this year, deciding instead to prevent these rifles -- legal to make and purchase in the United States -- from entering the country.
The State Department’s actions undermine the will of Congress, which has expressly authorized these types of transactions in the Arms Control Export Act. H.R. 6240 would remove jurisdiction by the State Department and the Department of Defense over these imports, which are already regulated by the Justice Department through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE). These collectable firearms would still be treated like any other modern, legal firearm, including BATFE licensing requirements, record keeping requirements, and background checks prior to retail sales.
