House Committee Reduces Suppressor Tax Zero Retains NFA Registration

Gun Owners of America (GOA) and allied groups have criticized the House Ways and Means Committee for what they view as a failure to fully repeal the National Firearms Act's (NFA) suppressor regulations, instead settling for a compromise that reduces the $200 tax on suppressors to zero but keeps registration and other NFA requirements intact. GOA argues that full deregulation—including eliminating both the tax and registration—was possible through budget reconciliation, a legislative process allowing passage with a simple Senate majority, but lawmakers chose political convenience over principle. The compromise also maintains the $200 tax on most other NFA firearms and introduces a $5 tax on certain items, which GOA says perpetuates unconstitutional government control over gun owners. NRA leaders have expressed support for removing suppressors from the NFA, while House Republicans, including Rep. David Kustoff, have cited Senate procedural obstacles as reasons for the limited reform, although some Senate members dispute these claims and suggest the Senate could address them. GOA continues to push for full repeal of NFA taxes and regulations and accuses lawmakers of betraying gun owners by accepting half-measures that leave in place burdensome background checks, fingerprinting, and registration requirements. Industry coalitions backing GOA also urge Congress to use reconciliation to repeal these outdated taxes fully and restore Second Amendment rights without compromise.