The proposed abolishment of the $200 transfer tax is part of one big beautiful bill law settlement underway in Congress.
A suppressor is a thick cylinder attached to the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the sound produced when fired. They are popular with hunters. Hunters want the animals to be away when filming games, and they want to reduce recoil on shots.
Currently, suppressors are regulated by the federal government through tax laws. To purchase one, the customer must submit an application to the Federal Alcohol Administration, cigarettes, firearms and explosives (ATF) and pay $200 in transfer tax. The gun industry group has long criticised the law, but they say they will do nothing to reduce gun crime.
“Americans should not be taxed on safety devices that help prevent irreversible damage to one of their senses while exercising their constitutional rights,” wrote a group of organizations led by Knox Williams, president of the American suppression association, who supported the provisions.
Transfer tax reductions, if ultimately enacted, maintain some regulations regarding the sale of suppressors, but harmonize them with how “long guns” are treated. When purchasing a suppressor, buyers will be subject to a nationwide immediate criminal history check system search at the time of sale.
Related Stories
“Traditional hearing protection alone does not always provide adequate protection from noise exposure,” wrote Amin Amrani, president of the Society of Auditology, in a letter to Rep. Ben Klein (R-Va.), whom he shared with the Epoch Times. “Firearm noise suppressors can be effective supplements.”
Suppressors are still subject to state regulations. Although mostly legal for ownership and hunting, eight states ban their use entirely, and the bill will not affect these bans.
The Gun Industry Group is celebrating the inclusion of this provision.
“This represents a monumental victory over Second Amendment rights and eliminates burdensome regulations,” said John Comerford, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Measures.
