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Gun Rights Groups Win Major Suppressor Case
NewsMax ^ | 08/13/2026 | James Morley III

Posted on 08/13/2026 9:52:10 AM PDT by thegagline

Second Amendment advocates scored a significant legal victory Thursday after the Justice Department declined to immediately appeal a federal court ruling that struck down longstanding federal permitting requirements for suppressors and short-barreled firearms.

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix of Texas ruled that key provisions of the National Firearms Act could no longer be justified under Congress' taxing authority after Republicans eliminated the law's $200 tax on suppressors and short-barreled rifles last year.

The Trump administration allowed Hendrix's order to take effect after midnight Thursday instead of seeking an immediate stay or filing an appeal.

The decision marks a major win for gun rights organizations, firearms businesses and Republican lawmakers who had urged the Justice Department to let the ruling stand.

Gun Owners of America and other Second Amendment advocates argued that maintaining a federal registration and permitting system after eliminating the underlying tax was unconstitutional.

The Justice Department told The New York Times it "respects Americans' Second Amendment rights and is currently assessing the impact of the court's ruling."

The administration still has 52 days to appeal, meaning the legal battle may not be over.

The ruling effectively ends the challenged federal fingerprinting, registration and ATF approval requirements for covered gun owners and businesses, including customers of major retailers involved in the lawsuit. *** Gun-control organizations condemned the Justice Department's decision, arguing that removing the federal requirements will make dangerous weapons and accessories easier to obtain. **

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


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This ruling is a big win for Second Amendment supporters and a significant loss for the ATF and the Department of Justice, which had argued that the NFA’s federal fingerprinting, registration, and ATF-approval requirements for covered gun owners and businesses (including customers of major retailers) remain in effect.

It remains to be seen whether the Trump Administration will continue its efforts against the Second Amendment.

1 posted on 08/13/2026 9:52:10 AM PDT by thegagline
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To: thegagline

This was the end result of eliminating the tax in the obbb.
That was why running the tax to 0 was so important


2 posted on 08/13/2026 10:08:52 AM PDT by SPDSHDW (A sinner saved by Jesus)
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To: thegagline

It isn’t a loss for the Trump ATF.

The Trump ATF is being transformed into a Second Amendment friendly, or at least neutral organization.


3 posted on 08/13/2026 10:12:13 AM PDT by marktwain (----------------------)
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To: thegagline

the rights of American citizens to keep and bear arms “shall not be infringed”


4 posted on 08/13/2026 10:16:10 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: thegagline

Now maybe they can sort out the SBR rules so that they make sense. As in, just get rid of the stupid restrictions.


5 posted on 08/13/2026 10:27:32 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: thegagline

‘Cans’ for Everyone !


6 posted on 08/13/2026 10:27:35 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Good SCIENCE is Not Faith BUT Curiosity. )
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To: marktwain
The Trump ATF is being transformed into a Second Amendment friendly,

That doesn’t comport with the pleadings. The ATF argued that the fingerprinting, documentation, application, and ATF approval as set forth in the NFA remain in place. The court ruled against the ATF and in favor of the Second Amendment.

7 posted on 08/13/2026 10:43:54 AM PDT by thegagline (If you hate Christianity, Vote Talarico. Sic semper tyrannis! Zeldin for President )
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To: thegagline
It remains to be seen whether the Trump Administration will continue its efforts against the Second Amendment.

FR nevertrumpers continuing to gaslight and spread 'Orange man bad' propraganda where ever they can...

Trump's admin has been the MOST pro 2A admin ever, as it works to overturn assault weapon bans in many states....

yet FR's are suppose to believe 'the Trump Administration will continue its efforts against the Second Amendment'

🙄

8 posted on 08/13/2026 10:44:09 AM PDT by backpacker_c
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To: Sicon

Now maybe they can sort out the SBR rules so that they make sense. As in, just get rid of the stupid restrictions.


Correct. They never made sense. The days of the NFA for suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns and Any Other Weapons are numbered.

It needs to be done gradually, so as not to spook Roberts and may be Justice Barrett. Done incrementally, it will happen.


9 posted on 08/13/2026 10:48:11 AM PDT by marktwain (----------------------)
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To: backpacker_c

The Trump Administration argued that the NFA fingerprinting, documentation, application, and the ATF screening remain in effect. That is contrary to the Second Amendment. Set aside your fervent idolatry and let the truth show you the way. Best of luck in your endeavor.


10 posted on 08/13/2026 10:53:16 AM PDT by thegagline (If you hate Christianity, Vote Talarico. Sic semper tyrannis! Zeldin for President )
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To: thegagline; All

The Trump Administration argued that the NFA fingerprinting, documentation, application, and the ATF screening remain in effect. That is contrary to the Second Amendment.


Some ATF lawyers in the Trump administration argued such on June 6, 2026.

Now, the Trump administration has decided not to ask for a stay on the Court’s order refuting that argument. Such is considerable progress.

In the Big Beautiful Bill, the Congress voted to eliminate Silencers, Short barreled Rifles, Short Barreled Shotguns and Any Other Weapons (AOW) from the National Firearm Act. The Senate Parliamentarian stripped that provision from the bill.

The Trump Administration is destroying most of the NFA with the combination of removing the taxes and how they handle court actions.


11 posted on 08/13/2026 11:06:49 AM PDT by marktwain (----------------------)
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To: marktwain
Some ATF lawyers in the Trump administration argued such on June 6, 2026.

You can lie by omission or commission. You chose the former. The head of the ATF nominated by Trump, the ATF, the attorney general, Robert Blanche, and the DOJ all argued FOR the NFA rules. It wasn't just some lawyers for the ATF as you claimed. You would be better served by setting aside your idolatry and sticking to the facts.

12 posted on 08/13/2026 11:24:10 AM PDT by thegagline (If you hate Christianity, Vote Talarico. Sic semper tyrannis! Zeldin for President )
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To: Sicon
Now maybe they can sort out the SBR rules so that they make sense. As in, just get rid of the stupid restrictions.

While you can now buy an SBR with just a Form 4473, it is still unclear as to whether you can put a pistol length barrel on a T/C Encore frame with a shoulder stock. That assembly from existing parts in your range bag has always been possible, but avoided because it became NFA and needed a "registered" NFA lower to be legal.

13 posted on 08/13/2026 11:35:27 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: thegagline
Ah... got it...

You're trying to spread KING TRUMP BAD. ... BAD, BAD, BAD.

Trump admin didn't get rid of LAWS from the national firearms act of 1934 and the gun control act of 1968....

EVERYONE MUST BELIEVE BAD TRUMP. BAD, BAD, BAD...

never mind that Trump doesn't have the votes to overturn LAWS passed by congress with anti 2a dems and rino Trump hating republicans...

14 posted on 08/13/2026 11:38:51 AM PDT by backpacker_c
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To: backpacker_c
His Administration argued for the NFA rules pertaining to documentation, application, and ATF approval.

You are a simpleton. This is my last post to you as I don’t like to communicate with the mentally challenged and unstable.

15 posted on 08/13/2026 1:19:40 PM PDT by thegagline (If you hate Christianity, Vote Talarico. Sic semper tyrannis! Zeldin for President )
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To: Myrddin

PSA sells a lower without numbers, are you saying the if I put an upper on it, it would be illegal?


16 posted on 08/13/2026 1:49:43 PM PDT by Robe (We just replaced)
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To: thegagline
hmmmmmm..... who to believe...who to believe.....

thegagline

It remains to be seen whether the Trump Administration will continue its efforts against the Second Amendment.

vs

Rep. Andrew Clyde House Republicans @Rep_Clyde

🚨 BREAKING: I’ve received confirmation from the Trump Administration that the DOJ will NOT appeal our historic court victory against the NFA.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP and Attorney General Blanche, for delivering the most significant Second Amendment win in OVER 90 YEARS!
10:01 PM · Aug 12, 2026 1.5M Views

https://x.com/Rep_Clyde/status/2087721147831828991

17 posted on 08/13/2026 1:58:35 PM PDT by backpacker_c
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To: Robe

He’s saying you can buy a complete sbr from PSA with only a 4473, without NFA registering it.

However, it’s not clear how the judgement applies if you have a collection of parts that you could have built into a sbr, but didn’t because you should NFA register it.

I think one of the issue will be, depending on when you got the parts, if you had a bunch of parts and made a sbr/sbs/suppressor, were you guilty of constructive possession?


18 posted on 08/13/2026 2:09:58 PM PDT by backpacker_c
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To: thegagline

The BIGGER news is that DOJ already has announced they WILL NOT be appealing the ban.

https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/12/doj-waves-white-flag-accedes-to-removal-of-red-tape-from-suppressors/

What I DO NOT know, and what I have not seen any opinion on from an authoritative source, is whether anyone else (besides the DOJ) has standing to appeal the decision.


19 posted on 08/13/2026 2:27:13 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: backpacker_c

The fun part is the information on that 4473 will probably end up in the ATF’s “searchable database”, which they insist is not a backdoor registry.


20 posted on 08/13/2026 2:28:24 PM PDT by Antihero101607
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