U.S. Export Controls of Firearms: Examining the Regulatory Landscape, Foreign Policy, & Key Cases

Businesses who choose to engage in the business of exporting firearms or ammunition from the United States must be prepared to enter a labyrinth of regulatory controls that assuredly will make one’s head spin.  Several agencies, operating under various statutes, issue rules and regulations that may appear nonsensical, burdensome, and difficult to navigate.  This session, taught by seasoned practitioner Johanna Reeves, will provide a comprehensive overview of the regulatory landscape governing the exports of firearms and ammunition, the role of foreign policy, sanctions, and agency discretion in controlling exports, the unique impact of politics into the export licensing process for firearms and ammunition, and key cases.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify what agencies govern exports of firearms and ammunition and the scope of their respective controls

2. Develop best practices for an exporter of firearms and ammunition to avoid regulatory pitfalls

3. Examine how courts have decided cases involving firearm exports