Justin Amash: Let’s Close Loophole That Lets U.S. Sell Guns to Syrian Rebels

Libertarian Congressman responds to President Obama's executive order on guns.

By Robby Soave

While numerous skeptics of the idea that stronger gun control would meaningfully curb mass shootings or reduce murders have assailed President Obama's proposed executive action on guns as foolhardy, Rep. Justin Amash formulated a different criticism of the plan. He tweeted:

So, the guy who sells guns from our government to radical Syrian rebels lectures law-abiding Americans about selling guns to each other.— Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 5, 2016

Perhaps an overlooked loophole in the gun debate is the one that permits the federal government to sell weapons to Syrian rebels without an up-to-date declaration of war against the opposing forces of ISIS and Bashar al-Assad.

As for violence in the U.S., Amash wrote that the government should focus on "conditions that lead to violence: mental health issues, lack of economic opportunity, unfair criminal justice system," rather than gun control.

Read Brian Doherty's February 2016 cover story on gun control and statistics here.

Robby Soave is a staff editor at Reason.com.

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