US Halts Exports of Most Civilian Firearms for 90 Days

The United States has paused the approval of new export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition sold to all non-governmental users for 90 days.
US Halts Exports of Most Civilian Firearms for 90 Days
Handguns displayed at the 2016 National Shooting Sports Foundation's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas on Jan.19, 2016. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Wim De Gent
Updated:
0:00

The United States has paused the approval of new export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition sold to all non-governmental users for 90 days, the Commerce Department said late Friday, citing national security and foreign policy interests.

The decision includes most semiautomatic and non-automatic firearms, shotguns, and optical sights.