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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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ATF Targets Pistol Stabilizing Braces in New Rulemaking

News  

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

ATF Targets Pistol Stabilizing Braces in New Rulemaking

On June 7th, ATF published a new notice of proposed rulemaking on its website...

Maine: Multiple Hunting Measures to be Worked on in Committee

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Maine: Multiple Hunting Measures to be Worked on in Committee

Next week, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee is expected to vote on both pro-hunting and anti-hunting measures. 

Please Urge the Department of Justice to Rein in ATF's Arbitrary Determination on "Honey Badger" Pistol

News  

Monday, October 12, 2020

Please Urge the Department of Justice to Rein in ATF's Arbitrary Determination on "Honey Badger" Pistol

As we reported last week, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) recently informed firearm manufacturer Q, ...

Your Action Needed: Urge the Department of Justice to Rein in ATF's Arbitrary Determination on "Honey Badger" Pistol!

News  

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Your Action Needed: Urge the Department of Justice to Rein in ATF's Arbitrary Determination on "Honey Badger" Pistol!

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) recently informed firearm manufacturer Q, LLC that, in ATF’s view, Q’s ...

Virginia: General Assembly to Convene July 9th for Special Session on Gun Control

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Virginia: General Assembly to Convene July 9th for Special Session on Gun Control

Despite his failed gun control agenda being soundly defeated early on in the 2019 regular legislative session, Governor ...

Governor Northam to Convene Special Session on Gun Control July 9th!

News  

Friday, June 7, 2019

Governor Northam to Convene Special Session on Gun Control July 9th!

Embattled Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has announced that he will convene a special session of the General Assembly ...

Does a Suppressed Pistol Sound like a Nail Gun?

News  

Friday, June 7, 2019

Does a Suppressed Pistol Sound like a Nail Gun?

In response to reports that the Virginia Beach shooter used a firearm suppressor in carrying out his terrible ...

Factcheck.org  

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Obama Misrepresents U.S. Gun Laws

n remarks at a technology conference in Brazil, former President Barack Obama misrepresented U.S. gun laws, claiming that ...

Georgia: Gov. Kemp Signs Bill To Improve Hunting Opportunities

Hunting  

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Georgia: Gov. Kemp Signs Bill To Improve Hunting Opportunities

On May 7th, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 72 into law. 

Working Together to Save the Second Amendment: Part 1

News  

Friday, May 3, 2019

Working Together to Save the Second Amendment: Part 1

Promoting the defense of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms of NRA’s more than 5 million members, ...

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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.