A coalition led by the American Association of Repressors, alongside American Gun Owners, the NRA, and the Second Amendment Foundation, has reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Tune (R). Their letter urges him to uphold the provisions in the Budget Settlement Bill that would eliminate the National Firearms Act tax on suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
On May 22, 2025, Breitbart News highlighted that a significant budget package supported by the GOP-led House includes measures to abolish the suppressor tax and registration mandates.
Further reports from Breitbart News on June 17, 2025, revealed that the Senate Finance Committee’s iteration of the settlement bill also proposes the removal of short-barreled rifles and shotguns from the NFA tax system. Numerous organizations, including the American Suppression Association, NRA, and Magpul, are advocating for the removal of NFA challenges pertaining to suppressors and short-barreled firearms.
The National Hearing Conservation Association added their support, pointing out the health benefits for target shooters and sports participants when using suppressors.
According to research, traditional hearing protection isn’t always effective in preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) when firing weapons. The protection offered by these devices can be inconsistent and often much less than what their ratings suggest. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends a 25% efficiency for traditional hearing protection, with higher rates for certain types of earplugs. A study by NIOSH found that many earplug users do not achieve the desired noise reduction. However, combining earplugs with suppressors can greatly decrease the risk of NIHL compared to using either method alone.
The Academy of Audiology has also expressed their support for removing NFA taxes on suppressors.
On the flip side, Democrats are opposing the repeal of NFA taxes, sticking with their typical resistance to tax cuts.
For instance, on June 12, 2025, Sen. Chris Murphy (D) voiced his disagreement with the House Republicans’ attempts to lift NFA taxes on suppression devices, labeling them as tools “primarily meant for criminal activity.” He compared them to a Hollywood portrayal of silencers, mistakenly claiming that tax removal would eliminate background checks for purchasing suppressors.
In fact, firearm suppressors function similarly to mufflers found on cars and trucks. They do dampen the noise but do not entirely eliminate it, much like how a muffler lessens the sound from a Ford Powerstroke engine while still letting the exhaust escape. Suppressors mainly reduce the sharpness of gunshots, helping to safeguard the hearing of shooters and hunters.
Additionally, suppressors contribute to environmental protection by lessening the harshness of gunfire noise.
