Obama plan would ease weapons export rules

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

The Obama administration is crafting a proposal that could make it easier to export firearms and other weapons to certain countries in an effort to boost sales for U.S. companies, increase trade and improve national security, according to senior government officials.

The plan, which is part of President Obama’s overhaul of U.S. export rules, is being debated by several agencies and it could be months before a final rule is proposed, according to officials.

At least two federal agencies — the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department — have expressed concerns that the changes in the export rules could make it easier for drug cartels and terrorists to obtain weapons and make it harder to stop firearms trafficking.

Homeland Security raised its objections in an internal memo, saying that the proposed changes could hurt the ability of its agents “to prevent or deter the illegal export/transfer of lethal items such as advanced firearms to criminal groups, terrorist organizations or enemy combatants.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-plan-would-ease-weapons-export-rules/2012/05/02/gIQAfTJhxT_story.html

[pscot]

1. Good thing they got that Peace Prize in early

[lunasun]

2. yep

[Nihil]

8. +1 (n/t)

[Xipe Totec]

3. For the record....

this is a gun battle between Mexican military units and drug cartels armed with weapons obtained from the US...

This is just one gun battle, in Reynosa, right across the border from Texas.

By right across the border, I mean right next to the Mexico US border.

We're talking zero miles from the US border...

[limpyhobbler]

4. bad idea

[xxqqqzme]

5. Firearm sales need a

boost? I thought Obama being president was a huge boost. His re-election should insure record sales.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. You are confusing personal sales with sales to other nations

IIRC we tend to sell big iron (tanks and jets) versus small arms (rifles etc). AS I read this, the administration is going to ease the sale of small arms to other nations

[Selatius]

6. The United States has been and will continue to be the world's largest arms dealer on the planet. nt

[99th_Monkey]

7. Wonder if there is a fat check in the mail to Obama's campaign war chest

from the guns and munitions Super Pacs?

Why else would Obama push this kind of lunacy, in
the face of DHS and DoJ objections??

Oh, that's right; it's all about boosting our economy,
and I'm not supposed to care that it's the bloodiest money
on the planet.

[liberal N proud]

9. What happened to him taking our guns away?

The right is so concerned about him taking everyone's guns away when he is reelected, does this sound like someone who is plotting to confiscate guns?

[Enrique]

11. now, let's not assume these guns will be used to kill people

it might be for collectors around the world.

[-..__...]

12. Now if only the administration would ease import rules.

I would welcome that decision.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Obscene. (Must be an Onion headline)

[stockholmer]

14. as the bankster war machine trods on, we are all.......

As for the DOJ, perhaps that POS Holder should worry about the guns they directly allowed to go to the murderous Mexican cartels.


PS, fuck the Bush DOJ as well, sod the lot of 'em.

[Dont call me Shirley]

15. Weapons, The US's main export. Disgusting!