GOP tax bill would ease regulations on gun silencers and some rifles and shotguns

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 12:02 AM EDT, June 23, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — The massive tax and spending cuts package that President Donald Trump wants on his desk by July 4 would loosen regulations on gun silencers and certain types of rifles and shotguns, advancing a longtime priority of the gun industry as Republican leaders in the House and Senate try to win enough votes to pass the bill.

The guns provision was first requested in the House by Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican gun store owner who had initially opposed the larger tax package. The House bill would remove silencers — called “suppressors” by the gun industry — from a 1930s law that regulates firearms that are considered the most dangerous, eliminating a $200 tax while removing a layer of background checks.

The Senate kept the provision on silencers in its version of the bill and expanded upon it, adding short-barreled, or sawed-off, rifles and shotguns. Republicans who have long supported the changes, along with the gun industry, say the tax infringes on Second Amendment rights. They say silencers are mostly used by hunters and target shooters for sport.

“Burdensome regulations and unconstitutional taxes shouldn’t stand in the way of protecting American gun owners’ hearing,” said Clyde, who owns two gun stores in Georgia and often wears a pin shaped like an assault rifle on his suit lapel.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/tax-bill-big-beautiful-trump-senate-guns-2dc07c2e0320d81448b5d45f15088028

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This is an issue that would clearly violate the Byrd Rule and Democrats plan on challenging this with the Parliamentarian. So like other ineligible "policy" items that the House had packed in their version, hopefully this gets stripped from the Senate version.

[Historic NY]

1. Because silencers are good for only one thing the assassin's business

[travelingthrulife]

2. So Republicans would like to be able to kill more quietly.

[Abnredleg]

3. Suppressors are commonly used in Europe

In fact, some countries require them. That's because suppressors (also known as moderators) cannot silence a rifle, but merely reduce the noise from dangerous levels to just loud levels. You can only silence low powered pistols.

Finland:
Suppressors are classified as firearm parts and are widely used by hunters and sport shooters.

Germany:
Suppressors are treated the same as the firearms they are designed for, effectively requiring their use.

Sweden:
While not always mandatory, suppressors are regulated like ammunition, and anyone authorized to own a firearm can also own a matching suppressor.

Norway:
Suppressors are not heavily regulated and are commonly used by firearm owners.

Czech Republic:
Suppressors are classified as category C accessories, meaning they are available to licensed firearm holders and subject to registration.

Denmark:
Suppressors are legal and commonly used, though not necessarily mandatory for all shooting activities.

Portugal:
Suppressors (sound moderators) have been permitted for hunters and sport shooters since 2019.

Poland:
In 2020, a new law allowed police to issue permits for firearms with suppressors for hunting.

[bluedigger]

4. That would be fine, if we regulated possession of firearms like most of Europe does.

[Abnredleg]

7. True

but accuracy matters if want to change minds.

[Timewas]

5. Silencers??

They are not silencers, suppressors is much more accurate, their main purpose really is to protect your ears, they are not really all that quiet.....Agun still sounds like a gun regardless what Hollywood would have you think.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. From the 2nd paragraph in the OP

The House bill would remove silencers — called “suppressors” by the gun industry

I would consider "silencer" to be a slang/more common name for it used mostly by lay people. "Suppressor" has a more vague meaning IMHO because what would it be "suppressing"? The bullet? The sound when a bullet is fired? Maybe it should be called a "muffler".

[Vinca]

6. Brought to you by the "pro-lifers."

[maxsolomon]

9. By all means, end this intolerable oppression of suppression.

Firearms must be more free than anything else.


I think the Parliamentarian will uphold this as it's repealing a tax.