President Donald Trump (R) signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law on July 4 and delivered even more good news to law-abiding gun owners in the process.
The final version of the OBBB contains a provision that eliminates the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed on suppressors, short-barreled firearms and “any other weapons” as defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA).
“By eliminating the excise tax on these NFA items, the OBBB will not only lift the heavy burden of an unconstitutional tax from the backs of hardworking Americas, it will also serve as a critical step towards our ultimate goal of dismantling the NFA once and for all. But there is much work yet to be done,” said John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA). “While we will continue to fight for the total legislative elimination of the NFA, our organizations are proud to stand together in a new strategic lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the NFA in federal court.”
The language within the OBBB that removed this tax was previously removed as it was deemed to violate the “Byrd Rule” by the Senate parliamentarian. Once a provision is found to be in violation of this rule, that same language cannot be reintroduced to the bill. As such, new language that does not violate this rule was introduced and then passed.
“While the final bill is far from perfect, this bill represents the first major reduction of taxes imposed on law-abiding gun owners in decades and the first significant repeal of NFA provisions since its inception nearly a century ago. Additionally, this legislation opens the NFA to new legal challenges which could finally put an end to the NFA and its infringement on our Second Amendment Rights,” reported NRA-ILA.
As NRA-ILA noted, there is still much work to be done, but this represents another victory for law-abiding gun owners. It is also the latest in a growing list of victories for the Second Amendment under the second Trump administration and reaffirms Trump’s commitment to protecting constitutional rights.
“Now I stand before you with a very simple promise. Your Second Amendment will always be safe with me as your president. When I’m back in the Oval Office, no one will lay a finger on your firearms. It’s not going to happen,” said Trump at the NRA Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pa., while on the campaign trail in 2024.
