Russian Guns and Ammo Imports Halted as of September 7, 2021
The Biden State Department has banned imports of Russian-made firearms and ammunition. Russian firearms and ammo importation will be blocked for a minimum of 12 months starting September 7, 2021. The State Department Notice states:
New sanctions imposed today under the CBW Act include:
Restrictions on the permanent imports of certain Russian firearms. New and pending permit applications for the permanent importation of firearms and ammunition manufactured or located in Russia will be subject to a policy of denial.
Action Will Harm U.S. Firearms Owners
The Gun Owners of America (GOA) criticized the action, stating it will NOT achieve its stated purpose, but will only harm American hunters, shooters, and gun owners:
“It is clear to us that the intention is not to harm Russia but rather to hinder the acquisition of firearms and ammunition by American citizens.
Once again, the Biden Administration’s actions are misplaced. Ending imports by licensed importers will not stop drug dealers, murderers, and other assorted street criminals. It will, however, harm legitimate U.S. businesses while driving up the cost of other ammunition due to more buyers chasing a smaller supply.
We recognize the devastating implications these sanctions would have on individual gun owners amidst a national ammunition shortage. We are currently exploring administrative, congressional, and legal avenues to respond to these new sanctions.”
Ammo Shortages Will Worsen
Dean Weingarten cautions that the new ban will lead to more ammo shortages:
“This is the second round of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States over the Aleksey Navalny incident. The first round of sanctions did not ban the importation of Russian ammunition or firearms.
It is unclear how long supplies in the pipeline will last. The announcement is likely to rekindle the ammunition bubble for calibers commonly imported from Russia, such as 7.62×54, 7.62×39, 5.45×39, 5.56×45, and even match grade .22 ammunition.”
