ARMAS Act of 2024

The ARMAS Act of 2024 transfers regulatory control of certain firearm exports from the Department of Commerce to the Department of State, aiming to better monitor and restrict arms sales to countries experiencing high levels of firearms trafficking. The bill designates Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, and 10 other countries as "covered countries" and requires the Department of State to develop a strategy for disrupting illegal firearms trafficking to these nations. It mandates regular reports on firearms exports, end-use monitoring of weapons, and certification requirements before certain exports can occur, with the goal of reducing U.S.-sourced firearms contributing to violence in these regions. The legislation also establishes requirements for improved tracking of trafficked firearms through forensic data sharing between U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies.