New York Rep. Eliot Engel wants Obama to use executive action to close loopholes allowing foreign import of assault weapons




A New York congressman is pushing President Obama to go even further in his efforts to curb gun violence in the U.S.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx) penned a letter to the commander-in-chief Tuesday calling on him to enact additional executive actions on gun control that would close certain loopholes allowing the import of assault weapons from foreign countries.

"Expanding background checks to include additional gun sellers is an important step, and we welcome recent reports that your administration is planning to take that step. But, in accordance with the Gun Control Act of 1968, we respectfully ask that you also consider tightening significantly the rules that currently allow for the importation into the U.S. of military-style assault weapons," Engel wrote in the letter, which was signed by 91 other members of Congress.

It is currently illegal to import assault weapons into the U.S., but former President George W. Bush used his own set of executive actions to create loopholes in the law.

The Gun Control Act prohibits the importation into the U.S. of any firearm that is not "generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes."

But "unfortunately," Engel wrote, "current guidance treats these terms too narrowly, focusing only on the inclusion of specific parts and components.


 "This scheme risks losing sight of the threat posed by such powerful weapons, which were designed for the military and clearly have no sporting purpose," he added. "Further, focusing on parts and components creates a loophole whereby minor cosmetic changes to a non-sporting weapon can permit its import."

"It's time to develop a new policy that will strengthen enforcement of the Gun Control Act and eliminate these loopholes," added Engel, who requested Obama use "similar action" to his executive actions earlier this month to "address" the issue.

"Stemming the flow of these weapons into the United States would help to temper the danger these weapons pose," Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, concluded.

Engel's letter comes just weeks after Obama controversially announced a slew of executive actions on gun control designed to reduce the scourge of gun violence.

They included increased background checks for guns bought from dealers online and at gun shows, as well as a mandate for extra staffing and funding for the several government agencies involved in monitoring the purchase of firearms.

Read more at: NYDN

More of the same....."Take Action and Get Involved!"

FEE and of course FBHO

"Sporting Purposes" is language that needs to go. Heck, the entire GCA of 1968 needs to go as well.

I wonder- not that it will ever matter to the civilian disarmament crowd- but are there any stats as to crimes resulting from the criminal misuse of these so called "powerful weapons, which were designed for the military..." and are currently being imported?

Working at a gun store I hear this a lot, no one needs 30 rounds to hunt, I don't need a pistol or CCW cause I don't go in bad areas.

Sadly the crowd that could help our black rifle crowd as well as pistols could many times care less. If for some reason it affected their segment, maybe they would understand.

Fucking New York.

According to anti gun guys, any gun is a deadly military style assault weapon. That includes your Remington 700 deer rifle, your mossberg shotgun, etc.

Too some, that same deer rifle might as well be a military sniper rifle. I have heard that before. They should also remember that Australia made no difference between military
and civilian and banned everything. Today my black rifle tomorrow your deer rifle or scatter gun.