President Trump’s latest legislative push includes a long-overdue win for gun owners: a move to finally eliminate the $200 tax on suppressor transfers. But Second Amendment advocates are warning it doesn’t go far enough — and many are calling out lawmakers for stopping short of full deregulation.
The nearly 400-page reconciliation package, which Trump dubbed “one big, beautiful bill,” is packed with tax reforms meant to put working-class Americans first. Among them: Section 112030, which would zero out the outdated suppressor transfer tax that’s been draining law-abiding gun owners’ wallets since 1934.
That’s right — the tax would be gone. But the red tape? Still intact.
While the transfer fee would vanish, gun owners would still be forced through the same unconstitutional hurdles under the National Firearms Act (NFA): lengthy background checks, federal registration, and the same old Form 4 process. And if you’re building your own suppressor? You’ll still owe the government $200 via Form 1.
“This bill delivers on what Americans voted for when they elected President Trump,” said House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), who emphasized the legislation’s focus on hardworking Americans, small businesses, and economic growth.
But for gun rights leaders, the suppressor provision doesn’t go far enough. Advocacy groups like Gun Owners of America are urging citizens to demand the bill go further by incorporating Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act — which would completely remove suppressors from the NFA.
Erich Pratt, Senior VP of GOA, didn’t mince words.
“This isn’t a compromise, it’s a betrayal. Lawmakers had a clear path to strike down unconstitutional registration and tax requirements, and they chose not to take it,” Pratt said. “Gun owners won’t forget who turned their backs when full deregulation was achievable.”
For decades, suppressors have been demonized by politicians and the media, despite being vital hearing protection tools for hunters, shooters, and recreational firearm owners. Other countries with stricter gun laws than the U.S. have even encouraged their use to reduce noise pollution — but in America, gun owners are treated like criminals for owning them.
Now, with Trump leading the charge to remove the tax, it’s time for Congress to finish the job.
