Republicans take aim at easing imports of sporting guns and ammo

Published January 14, 2025 2:00pm ET



EXCLUSIVE — Sen. James Risch (R-ID) will introduce legislation Tuesday designed to weaken the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to block imports of firearms and ammunition designated for “sporting purposes.”

Dubbed the Sporting Firearms Access Act, which was first shared with the Washington Examiner, the bill would amend the Gun Control Act of 1968 to define “sporting purposes” for authorized imports to include hunting, target shooting, and competitions. This would prevent the ATF from “arbitrarily” restricting firearms.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.