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US - New Rules On Small Arms

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October 07, 2017

Why in news?

US administration has decided to shift the authority of oversight of the sale of American-manufactured small arms.

What is the new policy?

  • Weapons like assault rifles and handguns are shifted from State Department’s tightly-restricted Munitions list to the Commerce Control Lists.
  • Commercial gun exports would no longer be given the same scrutiny as missile and fighter jet sales that require Congressional approval.
  • The changes are primarily to reduce the bureaucratic red tape governing the export of non-military grade weapons and ammunition.
  • The aim is to enable US weapons manufacturers to sell their products overseas more easier and faster.

What are the concerns?

  • Unconventional conflicts within a sovereign state’s territory, such as the current war in Syria, are being witnessed more.
  • The semi-automatic weapons which can be used with little military training are mostly being used in these confrontations.
  • The cheaper cost is particularly advantageous for guerilla armies.
  • Also, these can now easily find their way to a conflict zone through smuggling and diversion.
  • Thus, loosening the inter-agency guidelines on use of these has the risk of fuelling the civil wars.
  • E.g. The military aid that helped drive Gaddafi from power in Libya, ultimately fuelled the civil war still ravaging Libya.
  • Also, relaxing the rules on small arms exports is counterproductive to the US objective of de-escalating these conflicts.
  • In all, the monetary benefits that US aims from this are expected to be lower than the cost of likely instability and violence.

 

Source: BusinessLine

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