Federal judge muzzles 1930s law restricting suppressors, some guns
A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday ruled that key provisions of a nearly century-old federal firearms law can no longer be enforced, finding that Congress lost the constitutional basis for regulating suppressors and certain short-barreled firearms after eliminating the tax that originally justified the restrictions.
TL;DR
- A federal judge in Texas ruled that key provisions of the National Firearms Act can no longer be enforced.
- The ruling impacts regulations on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns.
- The judge found that Congress lost its constitutional basis for regulating these items after eliminating the tax that justified the restrictions.
- The National Firearms Act was enacted in 1934 and previously upheld as a valid exercise of Congress's taxing power.
- The decision could allow purchasers to acquire suppressors and short-barreled firearms without federal registration.
- Gun rights organizations view the ruling as a victory, while gun control advocates consider it a setback for public safety.