Concerns Rise Over US Gun Exports Fueling Global Crime

WASHINGTON, DC -Senior US lawmakers have pressed the Commerce Department to release detailed data on exports of American-made semi-automatic weapons, citing concerns that such sales are fueling criminal violence abroad.

In a letter to Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks said US firearm exports account for a significant share of crime guns traced globally.

Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) shows that legal US firearm exports are responsible for “almost 20 per cent of crime gun traces in Central America and over 37 per cent globally outside of North America.”

The lawmakers warned that “Without proper controls, legal firearm exports are often diverted into the underground market and end up arming militia, cartels, and other criminal actors abroad, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.”

They said this trend risks undermining US national security and foreign policy objectives.

“As this Administration attempts to combat cartels and other transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere, it must ensure that the illicit and legal flow of US-made weapons across our borders are not contributing to instability and violence and undercutting the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” the lawmakers wrote.

By law, the Commerce Department is required to provide relevant information to congressional committees upon request, including data tied to export licenses and regulatory compliance.

In the letter, the lawmakers have asked the department to provide a comprehensive breakdown of exports of semi-automatic firearms and related accessories, including rifles, pistols, shotguns, and associated components classified under specific export control categories.

Their request seeks monthly data since January 2025 on the number of licenses approved, countries receiving the exports, and the types and volumes of weapons authorized for sale.

They also asked for details on the type of buyers involved, including whether exports were approved for wholesale distributors, retailers, or individual customers. (IANS)