Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Recent ATF Action Shows Need for Suppressor Reform

Monday, March 14, 2022

Recent ATF Action Shows Need for Suppressor Reform

As we reported last week, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF”) denied approximately 850 Form 1 applications for prospective makers of suppressors on February 28. These denials were apparently made due to a change in ATF policy regarding certain devices that ATF claims are in reality suppressor parts kits.”

The Form 1 application (technically ATF Form 5320.1) is the Application to Make and Register a Firearm. This is the application form that applicants who are not licensed to manufacture National Firearms Act (NFA”) regulated firearms must use to legally create an NFA firearm.

Under federal law, firearm suppressors, called firearm silencers or firearm mufflers in federal statute, are treated legally the same as other firearms and subject to the registration and taxation requirements of the NFA.

The new change in policy was due to ATFs interpretation of the definition of firearm silencer or firearm muffler” which is any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.”

ATF is specifically concerned with combination[s] of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler . . . .” According to ATF, companies who are selling products that can be used for the assembly or fabrication of a silencer must treat those products as if they are already a silencer. The company would need to be a licensed manufacturer, pay a special tax, and the product would need to be transferred on ATFs Form 4 application, rather than being registered via a Form 1 by the person who intends to use the parts in assembling a functional silencer.

Notably, NRA-supported legislation would address this definition to eliminate any possibility of these types of interpretations. The Hearing Protection Act (HPA”), in addition to removing suppressors from the purview of the NFA, would change the definition that is the subject of ATFs new interpretation.

The new definition would change the definition to mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including the keystone partof such a device.”

It would further define the term keystone part[to] mean[], with respect to a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, an externally visible part of a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, without which a device capable of silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm cannot be assembled, but the term does not include any interchangeable parts designed to mount a firearm silencer or firearm muffler to a portable firearm.”

In essence, these changes would bring suppressors into line with other firearms, where only a single part is the frame or receiver,” and other parts could easily be bought and sold for repair or replacement.

Unfortunately, HPA currently lacks sufficient votes in both houses of Congress, but gun owners will be given the opportunity this November to elect law makers who support the right to keep and bear arms and will put a stop to ATFs repeated reinterpretations” of federal law. 

TRENDING NOW
ATF Skirts Legal Formalities and Springs Another Gun Control Rule on the American People

News  

Monday, April 22, 2024

ATF Skirts Legal Formalities and Springs Another Gun Control Rule on the American People

On Friday, ATF provided the unpleasant surprise of yet another rulemaking to implement the noxious Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). 

“Unquestionably in Common Use Today” – Study Confirms National Standard for Detachable Magazine Capacity is Over Ten Rounds

News  

Monday, April 22, 2024

“Unquestionably in Common Use Today” – Study Confirms National Standard for Detachable Magazine Capacity is Over Ten Rounds

Along with “assault weapon” bans, so-called “high capacity” magazine restrictions are a cornerstone of modern gun control.

Colorado: Gun Control Bills Pass House After Weekend Votes

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Colorado: Gun Control Bills Pass House After Weekend Votes

After holding late-night votes until close to midnight on Saturday, April 20th, the Colorado House passed three anti-gun bills on their third reading, including liability insurance mandates, an 11% excise tax, and a state-level permitting systems for FFL's. 

NRA Scores Legal Victory in Dispute with DC Attorney General

News  

Thursday, April 18, 2024

NRA Scores Legal Victory in Dispute with DC Attorney General

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) has announced a legal victory in a high-profile governance matter brought by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (DCAG).

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

Monday, April 1, 2024

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

NRA Members Among the Largest Class Protected from Draconian Rule

Nevada Supreme Court Upholds “Ghost Gun” Regulations

Monday, April 22, 2024

Nevada Supreme Court Upholds “Ghost Gun” Regulations

The Supreme Court of Nevada upheld Nevada’s regulations on so-called “ghost guns” in Sisolak v. Polymer80, holding that the statutes are not unconstitutionally vague.

With a Stroke of the Pen, Biden ATF Criminalizes Tens of Thousands of Private Firearm Sellers

News  

Friday, April 12, 2024

With a Stroke of the Pen, Biden ATF Criminalizes Tens of Thousands of Private Firearm Sellers

We have long been warning of the rule the Biden ATF has been preparing to redefine who is considered a firearm “dealer” under U.S. law.  The administration’s explicit objective was to move as close to so-called “universal background ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes House and "Sensitive Places" Expansion to be Heard in Committee

Monday, April 15, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes House and "Sensitive Places" Expansion to be Heard in Committee

On Sunday, HB24-1292 the semi-auto ban, received final passage in the House and has been transmitted to the Senate where it awaits a committee assignment. 

Iowa: Governor Reynolds Signs Two Pro-Gun Bills into Law

Monday, April 22, 2024

Iowa: Governor Reynolds Signs Two Pro-Gun Bills into Law

On Friday April 19th, Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2586 and House File 2464 into law. The NRA would like to thank Governor Reynolds and the supporters in the Iowa legislature for their continued commitment to ...

Joe Biden Seems to Hate Cannons as Much as He Hates the Truth

News  

Monday, April 15, 2024

Joe Biden Seems to Hate Cannons as Much as He Hates the Truth

For quite some time, we’ve talked about Joe Biden and his gift for gaffes. Whether it is him losing battles with his teleprompter, his train of thought spectacularly derailing, forgetting which politicians have passed away, or simply mumbling ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.