NRA Halts Onerous Rule Change for Traveling Hunters

by
posted on April 28, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
nrafam_news.jpg (41)

undefinedAmerican hunters preparing for African safaris and Canadian black bear hunts this spring can breathe a little easier knowing they won't have to wade through a sea of red tape to take a firearm with them.

On April 23, after meeting with representatives from the NRA, the firearm industry and sportsmen's groups, as well as key members of Congress, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it was suspending the sudden enforcement of a little-known 2012 rule change that altered the requirements for declaring personal firearms and ammunition for international travel.

“We are pleased that we have been able to reverse a bureaucratic nightmare that would have jeopardized the freedoms of law-abiding gun owners,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). “On behalf of our 5 million members, I want to thank Senator John Hoeven and Representatives John Carter and Chris Stewart for their work to protect American hunters and sport shooters from a web of bureaucratic red tape when traveling outside the United States.”

For years, Americans have been allowed to temporarily take up to three non-automatic firearms and as much as 1,000 rounds of ammunition abroad, without a permit, for personal use. The only requirement was that a U.S. Customs Form 4457 be obtained beforehand, a rather straightforward process that involved taking the firearm to a CBP office prior to departure, entering basic information about the firearm on the form, and having a CBP officer verify the gun's serial number and sign the form. The purpose of obtaining a Form 4457 is to establish ownership of property, be it a firearm, camera, computer or other personal item, before leaving the country in order to avoid paying import duties on expensive goods upon returning home.

However, the U.S. State Department changed the rules in 2012, adding a new requirement that travelers declare firearms by presenting documentation generated by the U.S. Commerce Department's Automated Export System. For unknown reasons, the rule change was not enforced until earlier this year.

The trouble is the Automated Export System is an online reporting tool designed for commercial exporters, not individual citizens, and requires entry of an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The State Department indicated that individuals could register with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as sole proprietors in order to obtain an EIN and use the system; however, according to the IRS, EINs are issued to businesses for tax purposes, and applicants must state a business reason for obtaining one. As previously noted by NRA-ILA, “This puts international travelers in the untenable position of having to make false declarations to the IRS in order to comply with State Department regulations and avoid enforcement actions by CBP.”

In announcing that it would suspend enforcement of the new rules, CBP affirmed that hunters will be able to return to the longstanding practice of utilizing a Form 4457 as the only documentation needed to travel abroad with a personal firearm. However, the prospect of an automated system is not gone altogether, as CBP noted that it is “working with our other government partners to modify the AES system and the reporting process to make a more user-friendly experience for individual travelers.”

To learn more about the NRA's efforts to resolve this issue, please visit nraila.org.

Latest

Nonhunter Safety Lede Fws
Nonhunter Safety Lede Fws

Non-Hunter's Guide to Recreating During Hunting Season

Not everybody uses hunting season to hunt, and that's okay. Here's how to safely coexist with the hunters who share the backwoods with you.

Reviewed: Walther Arms PK380 Semi-Auto Pistol

Created for concealed carry, Walther's perfected its ergonomics to make it easy to for everyone handle and shoot.

Camo Kids: Little Bipsy Launches Realtree Collection

With layerable, buttery-soft fabrics and Realtree EDGE Shadows patterns, this fun collection will delight your NRA Family.

It's Time for MidwayUSA Foundation's Annual Hometown Challenge Sweepstakes

Supporting your favorite competitive shooting team makes you eligible for some amazing prizes this September!

Throwback Thursday: Wally Johnson, the Last Ivory Hunter

In 1937 Mozambique, elephants were so overpopulated that people were dying. There, Wally Johnson made his legend.

Home-Defense Minute: How to Use a Mossberg Nightstick "Firearm"

No, please do not shoot it from the hip like an '80s action hero. Shooting Illustrated's Kevin Creighton explains.

Interests



Get the best of NRA Family delivered to your inbox.