quote:

Hoeven secured a commitment from the agency to return to the paper process used by international hunters for years,

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Under the agreement reached this week, the agency will allow international hunters to use the original paper process while CBP works with the Department of State on an appropriate long-term solution

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Originally posted by m3taco:
Gents:

As I've done in the past on this topic, I'm posting what I've drafted and been blasting out all afternoon to my Congressrats. Feel free to cut/paste/modify and send as you see fit.

Congressman/Senator:

A few weeks ago I contacted your office regarding new ICE requirements being implemented requiring hunters/sportsmen wishing to take their personal, non-military, sport hunting firearms outside of the US. https://www.ice.gov/cpi/faq

I had also included links to the ICE referenced AESDirect web site https://aesdirect.census.gov/ and the IRS web site regarding IRS rules/procedures regarding the required Employer Identification Number (EIN) http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/...ber-%28EIN%29-Online and the EINs mandatory use both to open an account in AESDirect or to have a third-party with an AESDirect Account enter the travelers information and obtain the new mandatory Internal Tracking Number (ITN).

I also pointed out the fact, per the IRS website link above, “Employer Identification Numbers are issued for the purpose of tax administration and are not intended for participation in any other activities (e.g., tax lien auction or sales, lotteries, etc.)” and in order to comply with the new ICE requirements and use the AESDirect commercial website, traveling sportsmen would be potentially violating Federal IRS code by obtaining and using an EIN for a non-“tax administrative” purpose.

Today, Senator John Hoeven announced on his website that CB&P has agreed to temporarily return to the previous paper forms while the AESDirect website is updated/modified for private (non-commercial) use. http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/p...be-9c15-b5fb71a76999

While I think this is great news, I seriously doubt this issue is going to be "dead”…perhaps in “hibernation” until DHS/ICE/C&BP regroup and try again. Specifically, as the press release states, “while updates are made to the automated reporting system for exporting weapons”. This clearly tells me they still intend on doing this and using this system in any format, I believe will still be in violation of 18 USC, 926, "Firearms Owners' Protection Act" by requiring sportsman traveling out of the US having the serial numbers of their personal, non-military, sporting/hunting firearms entered and maintained in a Federally maintained database in what I believe is in clear violation para (a)(3) of the above Act.

Para (a)(3) - “No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or dispositions be established.”

While I don’t think ANY temporary export permit should be required for personally owned non-automatic, sporting firearms, if there is some legitimate reason to make sure sporting arms going out are actually coming back, I have the following recommendation - a simple paper process. The form could be the same size as the current required CBP Form 4457 http://www.cbp.gov/document/fo...effects-taken-abroad so it would be easy to clip inside a passport just like a 4457.

This new form would have the travelers basic info, just name and passport number, firearm info (make, model, serial #), estimated departure/re-entry dates and estimated ports of exit and re-entry. I say "estimate" for dates and ports as it is not unusual for flights to change or get canceled, or for those driving across a boarder to change exit/entry points for any number of legitimate reasons. The form would have the date and time, name/initials and phone number of the US C&BP officer and stamped seal just like the current CBP Form 4457.

This form would be filled out at the same time as the traveler goes to a local C&BP office to obtain the CBP Form 4457 or at anytime after the traveler has confirmed airline tickets for those flying or could be completed at the departure boarder control point for those driving to Canada or Mexico. The form could be carried by the traveler and a copy in the rifle case. Unlike a CPB Form 4457 which is valid indefinitely, this new form would only be valid for this single trip. Since no government agency would be saving/recording firearm info in violation of 18 USC above, this would be very simple solution.

Important - this "new form" SHOULD NOT REPLACE the current CBP Form 4457 as this form is, and has been, used for DECADES by foreign countries for issuing their own "Temporary Import Permit" for those sporting/hunting arms temporarily coming into their countries. Changing the CBP Form 4457 or process with them will create SERIOUS problems for them as well as the hunters entering their countries.

Please feel free to email or call me if you or any of your staff would like additional information.

v/r

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Originally posted by larryshores:
I am told that this was a cooperative effort of the NRA, SCI and DSC.

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Originally posted by larryshores:
I am told that this was a cooperative effort of the NRA, SCI and DSC.

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Originally posted by LionHunter:
This is not the end. The language indicates this is only a temporary suspension until other options can be implemented. ...