Timeline to remove suppressors and SBRs from NFA ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Aim1

member
Joined
Oct 24, 2015
Messages
2,310
There is talk that Trump would remove suppressors and SBR's from the NFA, thus you could buy the rifles like any other rifle and buy a suppressor just like you're buying a scope for off the shelf (if I'm correct).

If this is true, I suppose the bill for this would have to go through the House and Senate before President Trump could sign it, or is this something he could do through executive action?


No matter what way it has to be done, what's the realistic timeline that it could actually become law?
 
It is a nice thought, but I suspect that reality is that political capital won't be spent on something (this) that is very easy for liberals to cry about, and doesn't actually advance any of the important agenda items.

My guess is none of this will ever happen, but I'd be extremely happy to be proven wrong.
 
To a large extent, it depends on how hard the NRA is willing to push for this. In turn, the NRA will respond to its membership. Is there a groundswell among NRA members for NFA reform? I'm not seeing it.

What I am seeing, on the part of the NRA and its membership, is a push for national concealed-carry reciprocity. But, national concealed-carry reciprocity is DOA in Congress because of the Senate filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to close debate. The Democrats can and will block it. (As I've said before, NFA reform, on the other hand, could theoretically pass with 51 votes in the Senate because it could come under the budget reconciliation procedure.)

Call me a cynic, but reciprocity may be an issue that the NRA leadership would like to keep alive, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that it has no immediate prospect of success. Things like this are great for fundraising and organizing.
 
I remain optimistic, but in reality, guns are not a hot topic when compared to things like ISIS, the economy, etc. It's one of those things that politicians don't care about expending political capital on until 2A is threatened such as in the aftermath of Sandy Hook.

If you are planning to get an NFA item, just go for it and pay the $200 tax because if you are waiting for the $200 tax to go away, I think you will be waiting years, if not, forever. I hope I'm wrong and we recreate a pre-1986 America!
 
Last edited:
Twiki357 said:
The 1934 GCA [NFA] was passed as a tax measure, not a gun control measure. So if the right congressmen get a fly in their ear, eliminating suppressors, SBRs and SBSs could easily be added into a budget reconciliation bill.
Click to expand...

Theoretically, that's correct. However, that depends on rock-solid unanimity on the Republican side. If a few Republican senators defect, it still isn't going anywhere.

Another hurdle is that if you get into the budget reconciliation process, then "revenue scoring" becomes important. Removing suppressors and SBR's from the NFA would result in a revenue loss. That would probably have to be offset by revenue gains somewhere. Opening the MG registry (repealing the Hughes Amendment) would be one way of doing that.
 
The most likely course of action will be getting the Hearing Protection Act voted in by the Senate and House and signed by Trump. This bill has already been introduced and has (among others) a main backer of the American Suppressor Association (ASA) which is dedicated to this one act of removing suppressors from the NFA list. When the 115th Congress start up in January 2017 is when things will start to move and we will be asked to contact our representatives to pressure them into voting for it. If the President signs it I believe it becomes law at that moment so we could potentially be looking as early March not that I would hold my breath.

Two things to note are;
1) Since the HPA was introduced in 2015 everyone buying suppressors during that time until it becomes law is entitled to a tax refund of the stamps.
2) If/when they are treated as regular firearms it will probably be years before the name brand suppressors are readily available again since the rush will be crazy. You'll see a lot of home made ones which will be fun too.
 
Ryanxia said:
The most likely course of action will be getting the Hearing Protection Act voted in by the Senate and House and signed by Trump. This bill has already been introduced and has (among others) a main backer of the American Suppressor Association (ASA) which is dedicated to this one act of removing suppressors from the NFA list. When the 115th Congress start up in January 2017 is when things will start to move and we will be asked to contact our representatives to pressure them into voting for it. If the President signs it I believe it becomes law at that moment so we could potentially be looking as early March not that I would hold my breath.

Two things to note are;
1) Since the HPA was introduced in 2015 everyone buying suppressors during that time until it becomes law is entitled to a tax refund of the stamps.
2) If/when they are treated as regular firearms it will probably be years before the name brand suppressors are readily available again since the rush will be crazy. You'll see a lot of home made ones which will be fun too.
Click to expand...


March would be awesome.


If they made them legal I would quickly go to a local store and buy 2. lol.
 
I would be very happy just to legally get an oil filter adapter for my birthday in March.
 
I have to wonder about the NFA? It seems to me, if Obama can release over 1,200 dangerous felons from prison? What is the problem with an Executive order legalizing a thread piece of gun steel?:)
 
Dog Soldier said:
I have to wonder about the NFA? It seems to me, if Obama can release over 1,200 dangerous felons from prison? What is the problem with an Executive order legalizing a thread piece of gun steel?:)
Click to expand...

The "problem" is that the Constitution grants the President the power of absolute pardon, but not the power of nullifying laws. And where did you get the idea that all 1200 are dangerous?

Be careful what you wish for. If one King can wipe away the rules you don't like, the next King can wipe away the ones that you do.
 
I was reading today (in the Huffington Post, of all places) that the first priority of the Republican Congress is repealing Obamacare. They plan to push this through in the first 90 days of the Trump administration, using the budget reconciliation procedure to overcome the Democratic Senate filibuster. Well, there's the opening for NFA reform -- just add the gun provisions to the budget reconciliation bill and watch them slide right through. Who's going to notice them in a 2,000 page bill, especially when all eyes are turned on the Obamacare issue? This is how things get done in Washington -- it's the proverbial sausage-making.
 
Dog Soldier said:
I have to wonder about the NFA? It seems to me, if Obama can release over 1,200 dangerous felons from prison? What is the problem with an Executive order legalizing a thread piece of gun steel?:)
Click to expand...
You have a point. ATF has wide latitude -- for example, shoulder stocks are prohibited (that is, you have to pay the $200 tax and register them) but ATF now allows shoulder stocks for old weapons -- broomhandle Mausers, for example. So by changing the regulations, you can in effect change the law by Executive Action.
 
Hopeful, but not expecting anything. Just like with the gun control course that Mr Obama wanted to chart during his second term, action is the responsibility of Congress, not the Executive.
 
Hacker15E said:
Hopeful, but not expecting anything. Just like with the gun control course that Mr Obama wanted to chart during his second term, action is the responsibility of Congress, not the Executive.
Click to expand...

And we have a republican controlled House & Senate now along with some powerful lobbying groups. I think we have a good shot anyway.
 
Elkins, It seems a judge and jury found these Felons a danger to society. That is how our system works. It has nothing to do with what I think. It has to do with a President who releases more Felons back on the street than anytime in history.
It was only stated to make the point. If guns are a problem in the hands of criminals. Why pass gun control laws and punish innocent gun owners and pardon violators? I may remind you. We did away with Kings in America in 1776.:D:thumbup:
 
Dog Soldier said:
Elkins, It seems a judge and jury found these Felons a danger to society. That is how our system works. It has nothing to do with what I think. It has to do with a President who releases more Felons back on the street than anytime in history.
It was only stated to make the point. If guns are a problem in the hands of criminals. Why pass gun control laws and punish innocent gun owners and pardon violators? I may remind you. We did away with Kings in America in 1776.:D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I think the more ominous point is how many things are now felonies. Bringing certain reptiles or feathers into the US can now make you felon, barring you from gun ownership for life. At the time of the Founders only genuinely serious crimes were felonies. Now practically everything can be if the prosecutor pushes for it. Mr. Obama has, at last count, pardoned less people than any modern president and mostly has commuted sentences of folks who would not be in prison now under modern sentencing guidelines.

Of course, to keep this on topic, the president can't really make any laws. But they do appoint the folks that make codes that now act as though they're laws. The Donald could probably chip away at some gun laws through appointments but it remains to be seen if he has any interest in doing so. I'd love the see the HPA pass! But pigs will fly before the Hughes Amendment gets repealed IMO. I wouldn't hold my breath about SBRs either.
 
Dog Soldier said:
Elkins, It seems a judge and jury found these Felons a danger to society. That is how our system works. It has nothing to do with what I think. It has to do with a President who releases more Felons back on the street than anytime in history.
It was only stated to make the point. If guns are a problem in the hands of criminals. Why pass gun control laws and punish innocent gun owners and pardon violators? I may remind you. We did away with Kings in America in 1776.:D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Your point remains invalid, it fails as a false comparison fallacy.

Presidential pardons are warranted by the Constitution, the Constitution does not afford the president the authority to ‘repeal’ laws passed by Congress, and firearm regulatory measures not invalidated by the Supreme Court do not ‘punish’ gun owners.
 
Haven't heard anything encouraging about SBRs.

On the other hand, if we're lucky, suppressors may be removed from the NFA rather soon, as it seems the bill has a rather influential supporter who'll have the ear of President Trump:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gu...hange-that/ar-BBy11ho?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=U270DHP

On the other other hand, now that the Hearing Protection Act has been noticed by the media, we'll have to see where the GOP majority goes with it . . . and if the squishy RINOs go and do their usual mischief.
 
I saw that JR was supporting this. This will be an interesting test to see how the Trump family will influence the 2a.
 
The Hearing Protection Act (as well as any other NFA reform) has to go through as a budget reconciliation provision in order to have any chance of getting past the Senate Democratic filibuster. That's how the Republicans are planning to do Obamacare repeal. Why not attach the NFA stuff as riders to the Obamacare repeal bill?

It's expected now that the Democrats will also filibuster Trump's Supreme Court pick. The way this can be negotiated (remember, Trump is supposedly a master of negotiation) is that a delay in the effective date of Obamacare repeal gets traded for quick action on the Supreme Court nominee.

It's going to be a very interesting first 90 days of the Trump administration.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Gtscotty
  • Locked
Petition to remove suppressors from the NFA
Replies
20
Views
1K
Comrade Mike
C
Swing
  • Locked
SHUSH Act
Replies
24
Views
2K
Demi-human
Demi-human
A
  • Locked
What is in a well-rounded NFA collection?
Replies
18
Views
2K
Arizona_Mike
A
T
  • Locked
Buying a “used” suppressor from private person
Replies
2
Views
692
MachIVshooter
MachIVshooter
S
  • Locked
WA NFA questions
Replies
9
Views
1K
Strykervet
S
Back
Top