No More $200 Tax Stamp for Suppressors? There’s a Very Good Chance of That In a Trump Presidency
OutdoorHub Reporters 11.10.16
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could buy a suppressor without having to pay a $200 tax on an already expensive item?
That’s exactly what the American Silencer Association and Representative Matt Salmon (AZ) hope to do with the introduction of the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The bill aims to remove suppressors from the jurisdiction of the National Firearms Act, which would eliminate the current complicated and expensive process associated with acquiring a suppressor.
While this bill faced an uphill battle before the election that’s a very different story now. With Trump in the White House, a Republican Senate, and a Republican House this bill could be fast tracked to the President’s desk.
You can read the full text of the bill below
H. R. 3799
To provide that silencers be treated the same as long guns.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 22, 2015
Mr. Salmon (for himself, Mr. Guinta, Mr. Carter of Texas, Mr. Kelly of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Collins of New York, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania,
Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mrs. Love, Mr. LaMalfa, and Mr.
Stewart) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that silencers be treated the same as long guns.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Hearing Protection Act of 2015”.
SEC. 2. EQUAL TREATMENT OF SILENCERS AND FIREARMS.
(a) In General.–Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by striking “(7) any silencer” and all that follows
through “; and (8)” and inserting “; and (7)”.
(b) Effective Date.–
(1) In general.–The amendment made by this section shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Transfers.–In the case of the tax imposed by section
5811 of such Code, the amendment made by this section shall
apply with respect to transfers after October 22, 2015.SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN SILENCERS.
Section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by
adding at the end the following:
“(f) Firearm Silencers.–A person acquiring or possessing a
firearm silencer in accordance with Chapter 44 of title 18, United
States Code, shall be treated as meeting any registration and licensing
requirements of the National Firearms Act (as in effect on the day
before the date of the enactment of this subsection) with respect to
such silencer.”.SEC. 4. PREEMPTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS IN RELATION TO FIREARM
SILENCERS.Section 927 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following: “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a
law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that, as a
condition of lawfully making, transferring, using, possessing, or
transporting a firearm silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign
commerce, imposes a tax on any such conduct, or a marking,
recordkeeping or registration requirement with respect to the firearm
silencer, shall have no force or effect.”.
