Legally Armed: V22N10

By Johanna Reeves, Esq.

Report on the 17th Annual Firearms Import/Export Conference

On August 1–3, 2018, the F.A.I.R. Trade Group and National Shooting Sports Foundation held their annual Firearms Import/Export Conference. The conference, which takes place every year in Washington, DC, is the only forum devoted to compliance for the firearms and ammunition import and export industries.

The F.A.I.R./NSSF Conference is a pinnacle event, providing invaluable and unequalled access to government import and export regulators from the ATF, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. The timing of this year’s conference was quite fortuitous, coming on the heels of the Trump Administration’s proposed rules to transition firearms and ammunition away from the export controls of the State Department over to the Commerce Department. In anticipation of major regulatory changes that are due to take effect within the year, this year’s agenda emphasized the Export Administration Regulations and how the exports of firearms and ammunition will be controlled under these regulations if and when the proposed transition rules are finalized and implemented.

I. August 1—Optional Add-on Sessions

As with previous years, the conference started with three optional add-on sessions. These sessions are an important element to the conference, giving attendees the opportunity to dive into compliance fundamentals in a smaller group atmosphere.

The first session, “Importing Firearms and Ammunition,” was presented by Johanna Reeves, attorney at Reeves & Dola, LLP, and representatives from the ATF Import’s Branch. The second session, “ITAR Exemptions and EAR Exceptions” was presented by Tim Mooney, Senior Export Policy Analyst at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and Kim Pritula, an NSSF consultant. This year a third session was offered, titled, “BIS Licensing Process and NSAP-R System.” This session was taught by Lisa Williams, Export Administration Specialist at BIS Office of Exporter Services Outreach and Educational Services Division, Steve Clagett, Director of the BIS Missile and Nuclear Technology Licensing Division, and Taurus Brackett from the Department of Defense, Defense Technology Security Administration licensing directorate.

II. August 2 Presentations

ATF Panel and...