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Rep. Ilhan Omar Challenges Trump Admin Rule Easing Overseas Gun Sales

HeadlineMar 28, 2019

On Capitol Hill, some Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to rescind new rules that make it easier for U.S. weapons manufacturers to sell grenades, flamethrowers and semiautomatic rifles overseas. Under the new rules, gun makers no longer need to be licensed by the State Department to sell weapons like the AR-15 to foreign buyers, and will instead need only a far-easier-to-obtain license from the Commerce Department. On Tuesday, Minnesota Democrat and freshman Congressmember Ilhan Omar took up the issue at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. She was questioning Jeff Abramson of the Arms Control Association.

Rep. Ilhan Omar: “On March 15th of this year, there was a shooting at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 people dead. The shooter was armed with five guns, two of which were semiautomatic rifles. Is it your understanding that this policy would make it easier for American manufacturers to export that weapon?”

Jeff Abramson: “Indeed. That’s exactly what we’re talking about.”

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