We have had an overwhelming request for information on this. So, lets dive in.
First, why are these new sanctions even taking place? Well, we must rewind to a year ago… according to the State Department’s fact sheet, the sanctions issued on Friday include “… a continuation of measures imposed on March 2, 2021, as well as in 2018 and 2019 in response to the poisoning of Sergey Skripal and his daughter, along with the waivers associated with these sanctions.”
Retaliation for espionage and chemical weapons; this is what it boils down to.
“Persuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act), the United States will impose a second round of sanctions on the Russian Federation over its use of a “Novichok” nerve agent in the August 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition figure Aleksey Navalny.”
What are the exact sanctions of the CBW Act and what do they mean for us?
The Act mandates that the U.S. government will terminate arms sales with a country found to have violated the act, including the “termination licenses for the export to that country of any item on the United States Munitions List.”
Typically once a ban has taken place it will not be lifted. Meaning, even though we saw some light at the end of the tunnel on ammunition, it is about to get exponentially worse. According to the the US International Trade Commission released through the National Shooting Sports Foundation report, in May 2021 alone, that 462.3 million units of cartridges, not including shotgun shells, were imported from overseas into the country. Some reports hold that as much as 40 percent of overseas ammo supply could be coming from Russian manufacturers or exporters located in Russia. This sudden loss of potentially hundreds of millions of units of ammunition from an already voracious ammo market could see consumer prices skyrocket as demand aggressively outpaces supply.
Say adios to those affordable deals on “cheap and reliable Russian-made ammo such as Barnaul, Tula, Red Army Standard, and Wolf, goodbye. Meanwhile, those with guns chambered in 7.62×39, 7.62x54R, 7.62×25 Tokarev, 9×18 Makarov, and 5.45×45 could be in a pinch to find cheap ammo, with the exception of surplus fodder from non-sanctioned countries such as the former Yugoslavia.“
Wait… Did you say Guns too? YEP!
Though the ammunition is the greatest hit to American gun owners. Lets talk gun imports… Looking to purchase your favorite gun imported by Century Arms such as that Canik you have been eyeing…or FIME Group. I would start planning now. Though we do not have all the details, manufactures, or products that will be affected it might be a good idea to be prepared… It is coming in one form or another.
When will this take place?
The importation of firearms and ammunition from Russia will be effectively banned starting September 7, 2021. According to the documents provided by the State Department, “These latest sanctions on Russia pursuant to the CBW Act will take effect upon the publication of a Federal Register notice expected on September 7, 2021, and they will remain in place for a minimum of 12 months. The sanctions can only be lifted after a 12-month period if the Executive Branch determines and certifies to Congress that Russia has met several conditions described in the CBW Act, 22 U.S.C. 5605(c). As soon as we know more we will issue an update.
Source Links
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2751
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/5605
https://tass.com/world/1328535
https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/russian-ammo-banned-import/424571