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National Firearms Act (NFA)

The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) requires the registration, with the federal government, of fully-automatic firearms (termed “machineguns”), rifles and shotguns that have an overall length under 26 inches, rifles with a barrel under 16 inches, shotguns with a barrel under 18 inches, and firearm sound suppressors (termed “silencers”). The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) placed “destructive devices” (primarily explosives and the like, but also including firearms over .50 caliber, other than most shotguns) under the provisions of the NFA. In 1994, the Treasury Department placed revolving-cylinder shotguns and one semi-automatic shotgun under the NFA.

The GCA prohibited the importation of fully-automatic firearms for private purposes and a 1986 amendment to the Act prohibited the domestic manufacture of fully-automatics for private purposes. However, short-barreled rifles and shotguns have becoming increasingly popular for home defense and defensive-skills-based marksmanship training and competitions, and sound suppressors have become increasingly popular for marksmanship training and competitions, and for hunting.

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Monday, May 12, 2014

Alabama votes to allow use of suppressors for hunting

The Alabama Department of Conservation voted unanimously last week to make Alabama the 32nd state to allow hunting ...

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Oklahoma: Senate Overrides Veto of Pro-Gun Bill

Today, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously voted to override Governor Fallin’s (R) surprise veto of House Bill 2461.  As ...

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Oklahoma: Urge the State Senate to Act on House Bill 2461

The Oklahoma Senate has yet to act on overriding Governor Mary Fallin’s (R) veto of the uncontroversial NRA-backed ...

Friday, March 28, 2014

Kentucky: Pro-Gun Bills See Flurry of Action in Last Days of Session

House Bill 128, sponsored by state Representative Bob Damron (D-39), passed in the state Senate Veterans, Military Affairs ...

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Michigan: Bill to Repeal State Ban on Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns Signed into Law by Governor Snyder

Today, Governor Rick Snyder (R) signed Senate Bill 610 into law, making it Public Act 63 of 2014. ...

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Kansas: “Shall Certify” Legislation Passes Senate, Returns to House for Concurrence

Yesterday, House Bill 2578 passed unanimously in the Kansas Senate.  It is now returning to the Kansas House of Representatives, ...

Friday, March 21, 2014

Georgia: Historic Victory for the Second Amendment

Shortly before midnight last night, within the last hour before adjournment of the 2014 legislative session, House Bill ...

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Kentucky: Two NRA-Supported Bills See Further Action

Yesterday, important pro-Second Amendment legislation passed unanimously in the Kentucky Senate.  Senate Bill 232 will now be sent to ...

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Georgia: Comprehensive Pro-Gun Reform Passes State Senate, Sent to House for Concurrence

Thanks to your active help and involvement, the Georgia Senate passed House Bill 60 with an additional amendment ...

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Arizona: Update on State Legislative Activity in Phoenix

Yesterday, March 17, was a very  active day for pro-firearms legislation at the Arizona Capitol.  The following bills ...

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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.