Weapons in the United States

2023

Increase in firearms exports by 56% to $81 billion

At the end of 2023, American defense companies, within the framework of government contracts, delivered weapons and military equipment abroad in the amount of approximately $81 billion, which is a record value. This is 56% more compared to the previous year, when the volume of exports in the corresponding segment was estimated at $52 billion. Such data was released on January 29, 2024 by the US Department of State.

The rapid growth is associated with the formed geopolitical situation. Major deals related to arms supplies to Ukraine played a key role in increasing exports. This, in particular, sales of attack and transport helicopters for almost $30 billion, as well as shipments of long-range rocket launchers to Poland and Germany. In addition, agreements for significant amounts with Australia, Canada and a number of other countries are mentioned. The increase in sales of military products, as noted, is due to NATO's desire to "stock up on the most modern weapons" in the context of the current confrontation.

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The total includes $62.25 billion for weapons purchases funded by allied and partner countries of the United States. Another $3.97 billion was received under the Title 22 military financing program, about $14.68 billion - through other programs of the State Department and the Ministry of Defense, including the Initiative to Promote the Security of Ukraine, for which about $12 billion was allocated.

It is also noted that direct commercial contracts between countries and the American defense companies themselves, which, as a rule, are more opaque, in 2023 amounted to $157.5 billion. This is approximately 2.5% more than in 2022, when an amount of $153.6 billion was recorded. Agreements have been concluded with, Italy,, India,, and Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Norway Ukraine.^[1]

U.S. firearms exports raise crime rates in many countries

A Bloomberg investigation published in January 2024 linked U.S. arms exports to rising crime worldwide.

The US presidential administration Biden plans to impose the toughest restrictions on arms exports in decades.

In the US, a court allowed drug addicts to own weapons

On August 9, 2023, the US Federal Court of Appeals lifted the ban on the possession of firearms for citizens who illegally use narcotic substances. The norms providing for the corresponding restriction were declared unconstitutional. Read more here.

China overtakes the United States for the first time in the number of ballistic missile launchers

China has surpassed the United States in the number of ground-based ICBM launchers. This, as it became known in early February 2023, the US military notified Congress. Read more here.

2019: US leads on firearms trade on the dark web

Data for 2019

2018: U.S. authorities allow distribution of 3D printing weapon drawings

In July 2018, the American company Defense Distributed, which develops drawings for  3D-produced weapons, obtained the legal right to freely distribute its pistol and machine gun schemes.

In 2013, Defense Distributed released drawings of a single-shot pistol for open access, allowing you to print weapon components on a 3D printer. A few days later, the Defense Trade Control Administration State Department USA demanded that the information be removed because, according to authorities, the company violates the rules of the international arms trade. Then they managed to download the documentation 100 thousand times and began to distribute it on torrent sites.

Lawsuit filed against US authorities over the publication of blueprints for the creation of weapons

Defense Distributed filed a lawsuit in an attempt to challenge the decision of the authorities and pointed out the violation of several constitutional rights of US citizens at once: gun ownership and freedom of speech. The proceedings lasted three years, but Defense Distributed achieved what it wanted.

The company was allowed to publish on the  defcad.comCAD-drawings of weapons with cartridges less than 12,7×99 mm (.50 BMG caliber). However, the ban includes automatic weapons and pistols with machine guns using non-firing ammunition. 

In addition, the State Department even agreed to cover the legal costs of the developers and will pay them $40 thousand.

In the settlement, the US Department of Justice recognized freedom of speech for disseminating information on the Internet, including drawings of weapons. The agency also promised to make appropriate amendments to the rules of international arms trafficking.^[2]

At the same time, the attorneys general of ten US states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the permission of the country's authorities to publish on the Internet instructions for assembling a pistol on a 3D printer.

It's just crazy to give criminals the tools to create untraceable , undetectable 3D-printed guns at the touch of a button, but that's exactly what the Trump administration is allowing, "said New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood.

2017:60% of gun deaths - suicide

Suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., a problem that rose 41 percent between 2006 and 2017.

60% of gun deaths - suicide

Of the 39,773 firearm deaths that occurred in 2017, 60 percent were suicides.

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