Making Hearing Protection a Reality: 2A Groups Push for Congressional Action

Second Amendment Advocates Rally for Complete Suppressor Reform

While promising developments have emerged on Capitol Hill regarding suppressor regulation, gun rights organizations emphasize that significant work remains to achieve comprehensive reform. The recent approval to eliminate the $200 tax on suppressors represents only partial progress toward the ultimate goal of full deregulation.

Initial Legislative Progress

Following an extensive overnight markup session extending from Tuesday into Wednesday morning, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a nearly 400-page reconciliation package through a strictly partisan vote. This package notably includes a provision that would reduce the longstanding $200 tax on suppressors to $0.

The legislation now advances to the House Budget Committee for further review before proceeding to consideration by the full House. This progression, according to NFA reform advocates, presents another opportunity to eliminate the regulatory framework that would persist even with the tax effectively removed.

Industry Leaders Call for Complete Reform

"Now, we call on the full House to do the right thing by inserting Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act to permanently remove suppressors from the unconstitutional NFA tax scheme," urged Knox Williams, president and executive director of the American Suppressor Association. "We have every confidence House leadership will deliver on decades-long promises to stand up for the Second Amendment rights of all Americans."

Even the National Rifle Association, which historically approached suppressor deregulation with caution, is now mobilizing its membership to contact Congress directly.

"Before final passage of this important legislation, the U.S. House has the opportunity to improve this provision to fully remove suppressors from the NFA," the organization stated. "This provision, along with any other provision in the bill, could be altered or removed at any time before final passage of the bill."

The True Barriers to Suppressor Ownership

Registration Requirements More Problematic Than Tax

Advocates emphasize that the bureaucratic registration process and administrative requirements—not merely the tax—constitute the most burdensome aspects of current suppressor regulations. Maintaining this regulatory framework preserves artificial barriers to acquiring suppressors, does little to impact criminal activity since improvised suppressors are relatively simple to manufacture illegally, and merely eliminating the tax could easily be reversed in future reconciliation bills.

Expert Perspectives on Partial Reform

Gun rights commentator Colion Noir offered insightful analysis on the current situation:

"They're not doing this because it's better for us. They're doing it because it keeps control in their hands. This isn't about safety, it never was. This is about setting precedent because if they remove suppressors from the NFA today, tomorrow, we'll ask, 'why are SBRs still there,' then after that, 'why is the NFA even a thing at all.' That's what terrifies them. Not the hardware. The idea that we might reclaim authority over our own rights. And I don't care who's in office. Republicans, Democrats, bureaucrats with pin collections and zero range time, if you're in government, the last thing you want to give up is power-- and I know it. That's why they'll toss you a $0 fee like a bone and act like they did you a favor because they think you'll settle for scraps instead of demanding the whole meal."

Moving Forward: The Path to Complete Hearing Protection Reform

As this legislation continues through Congress, Second Amendment supporters remain vigilant in their pursuit of comprehensive reform that addresses both the financial and regulatory barriers to suppressor ownership, maintaining that sound moderating devices represent an important safety tool for responsible firearm owners.