Firearms and suppressors are displayed at SHOT Show, the annual trade show for the gun industry, Jan. 21 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo\/Lisa Marie Pane, File)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-08-05T23:38:47Z<\/p>\n
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) \u2014 A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday struck down a 1930s law<\/a><\/span> that imposed regulations on firearm suppressors and guns that are considered the most dangerous, more than a year after President Donald Trump signed a bill eliminating taxes on those items. <\/p>\n The ruling could allow firearm owners to purchase firearm suppressors \u2014 known as silencers \u2014 short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and other certain firearms without registration, while also removing a layer of background checks. Last year, Republicans eliminated a $200 tax on those devices under Trump\u2019s massive tax and spending cut bill<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n The regulations are required under the National Firearms Act, passed in the 1930s in response to concerns about mafia violence. Groups that support gun restrictions said the law still has important safety protections and criticized the ruling as reckless. <\/p>\n U.S. District Judge James Hendrix said because there were no longer taxes under the act, the regulation should not continue either. <\/p>\n \u201cNo longer can the challenged NFA provisions be justified \u2014 as they have been for nearly 90 years \u2014 under Congress\u2019s taxing power,\u201d Hendrix wrote.<\/p>\n The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces the regulations, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. <\/p>\n The National Firearms Act has been in effect since 1934 and establishes key differences and regulates firearms considered the most dangerous. Because the act implemented a tax on the item, the registration was often used to ensure the tax was paid, gun rights groups said. <\/p>\n The ruling was a major victory for gun rights groups who said they hoped the decision would create momentum to ultimately send the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. <\/p>\n