Chris Murphy Aims to Significantly Raise Taxes on Specific Accessories and Firearms

New Tax Proposal on Firearms and Suppressors

On Monday, Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut put forward an amendment to the spending bill that includes significant tax increases on suppressor devices and various firearms.

The reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump last July had previously set taxes on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and items classified as “other weapons” to $0. This change came after senators removed those items from the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). However, Murphy’s amendment, referred to as SA 4159, aims to reinstate those taxes, raising them to an astonishing $4,709 per item.

Aidan Johnston, the federal director of the American Gun Owners Association, expressed strong opposition to this proposal. He remarked that this wasn’t the first instance of Murphy suggesting such a steep tax increase, stating that the amendment threatens Americans’ Second Amendment rights.

Johnston pointed out that the original $200 tax from the NFA was designed as a hefty financial barrier against machine gun ownership when it was implemented in 1934, and he noted that Murphy’s figures reflect adjustments for inflation. Other Second Amendment advocacy groups have also denounced Murphy’s amendment.

The National Gun Rights Association stated, “While it seems unlikely this amendment will pass, it clearly shows that Democrats view the NFA as a viable target. They won’t stop at outright bans; instead, they may try to price firearms out of reach.” They urged Republicans to recognize this as a significant threat and work towards dismantling the NFA completely.

Mark Oliva from the National Shooting Sports Foundation expressed a desire for Senator Murphy to direct as much disdain towards criminals as he seems to direct towards law-abiding gun owners and the industry. Oliva emphasized that while Congress recently acted to eliminate the NFA tax, Murphy’s ongoing pursuit of punitive measures regarding firearm suppressors—a tool viewed as a safety device—indicates a deeper issue. He argued for the need for “common sense” senators rather than merely common-sense gun control.