Republicans have embedded a provision in their sweeping tax package that would eliminate federal restrictions on silencers and short-barreled firearms, dismantling a key element of the 1934 National Firearms Act.
At a Glance
- The bill removes the $200 tax and registry for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns.
- GOP sponsors say the NFA restrictions violate Second Amendment rights.
- Critics warn deregulation could endanger law enforcement and public safety.
- The measure is folded into the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” advancing via reconciliation.
- The Senate parliamentarian may strike the provision on procedural grounds.
GOP Targets 1934 Firearms Restrictions
The House’s proposed tax overhaul includes a provision to eliminate federal excise taxes and registration for silencers and short-barreled firearms—items currently regulated under the National Firearms Act. If passed, gun owners would no longer need to pay a $200 fee or submit identifying documentation for these weapons.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R‑GA), a firearms dealer and key advocate, said the change restores Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens. Supporters argue that silencers protect hearing and are widely used by hunters and sport shooters. As reported by AP News, the move has broad support from conservative lawmakers and gun lobbyists.
Watch a report: Trump’s Tax Bill Deregulates Silencers
Critics Warn of Criminal Risk and Policy Erosion
Gun-control advocates denounce the rollback as a reckless gutting of one of America’s most effective federal gun laws. The Washington Post highlights how the NFA was crafted during the Prohibition era to target weapons favored by organized crime, including sawed-off shotguns and suppressors.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D‑CA) have vowed to oppose the provision, warning it could make shootings harder to detect and impede law enforcement. Reuters reports concern that deregulation could embolden criminals and endanger schools and government facilities.
Emma Brown of the Giffords Law Center said the change could “arm hitmen with impunity,” stripping away safeguards the ATF relies on for tracking dangerous weapons. As CPAPracticeAdvisor noted, the bill also proposes ATF budget cuts, potentially compounding enforcement challenges.
Legislative Battle in the Senate
Despite passing the House, the provision may not survive the Senate’s reconciliation process. The Senate parliamentarian has flagged the measure as likely non-compliant with budgetary rules. Democrats could force its removal if it’s ruled extraneous to the fiscal focus of the broader tax bill.
Other controversial firearm measures embedded in the bill—including deregulation of ghost guns and ATF defunding—remain under negotiation, according to The Trace.
This battle over silencers is more than symbolic. It marks a decisive GOP attempt to unwind nearly a century of federal gun restrictions, potentially redefining what weapons Americans can buy, build, or hide. Whether it survives the Senate will determine if America’s oldest gun-control law remains intact—or becomes history.
