GOA to File “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit” Against NFA Registry as “One Big Beautiful Bill” Heads to President’s Desk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2025
Washington, D.C. –Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), alongside our allies Palmetto State Armory (PSA), the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC), Silencer Shop (SS), and B & T USA (B&T), are announcing that we will file a federal lawsuit to dismantle the remaining provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA) after the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is signed into law by President Trump and goes into effect.
GOA’s team in Washington had been working behind the scenes with Congress since the November 2024 election to fully repeal the NFA, but congressional Republicans allowed an unelected bureaucrat to block the GOA-backed provision. Instead, the House and Senate settled for reducing the NFA’s $200 excise tax to $0 on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons or AOWs—teeing up GOA’s legal challenge.
GOA’s “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit” will ask the courts to strike down the NFA’s absurd new $0 tax and registration scheme for certain suppressors and firearms with short barrels. In the 1930’s, the Supreme Court only narrowly upheld the NFA solely as a tax statute—not as a firearms regulatory law. In Sonzinsky v. United States (1937), the Court ruled the NFA was permissible under Congress’s taxing power. But once the tax is reduced to $0, the constitutional justification for the law collapses.
GOA has also long argued that the NFA’s registration mandates violate the Second Amendment and are an unconstitutional overreach of federal power. With the tax mechanism gutted and reduced to an unworkable state by Congress, GOA’s forthcoming legal challenge will aim to strike down what remains of this obsolete and abusive law.
Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA, issued the following statement:
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle one of the most abusive federal gun control laws on the books. With the tax struck down by Congress, the rest of the NFA is standing on air. We’re ready to take this fight to the courts and finally end the federal registry once and for all.”
Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs, issued the following statement:
“GOA and our grassroots activists fought tooth and nail to fully gut the NFA and came closer than anyone else, in the 91 years this infringement has been on the books, to getting it repealed. Congress should never have shifted responsibility to the courts to strike down the archaic National Firearms Act of 1934. Now GOA will do what Republicans would not: continue the fight to repeal the NFA.”
Sam Paredes, on behalf of the board for Gun Owners Foundation, issued the following statement:
“The Supreme Court has made clear that the NFA survives only as a tax law. Once the President signs this bill and the tax disappears, the registry becomes an unconstitutional relic. GOF is prepared to go to court and challenge every remaining provision that violates the Second Amendment.”
Jamin McCallum, Owner and CEO of Palmetto State Armory, issued the following statement:
“Palmetto State Armory remains unwavering in our dedication to ensuring freedom is within reach for every American. The Hearing Protection Act (HPA) and the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act are essential steps in our ongoing mission. This commitment drives us to continue the fight to lift the heavy restrictions placed on American gun owners by the National Firearms Act. We, at Palmetto State Armory, together with our affiliates, proudly align with GOA, FRAC, and our partners in this endeavor. Our mission has always been, and will always be, to champion freedom and uphold our constitutional rights.”
Travis White, President and CEO of Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, issued the following statement:
“For almost a century, the National Firearms Act has imposed unconstitutional burdens on the American People under the pretextual guise of tax collection. Congress’ recent decision to reduce the corresponding tax for most articles covered under that Act to $0 leaves no further doubt as to the indefensible character of that Act. FRAC commends Congress for reducing the tax to $0 for those numerous articles, as we hope that this is a major step towards relegating this egregious law to its rightful place in the waste bin of history.”
Dave Matheny, Founder and CEO of Silencer Shop, issued the following statement:
“Silencer Shop is proud to stand with GOA in making sure the Second Amendment isn’t an afterthought. We’ve fought alongside patriots to keep the Big Beautiful Bill from excluding your gun rights—and we’re not done.”
Jon Scott, CEO of B & T USA, issued the following statement:
“For nearly a century, American gun owners have been compelled to navigate the restrictive boundaries set by the NFA. B&T USA is delighted to join forces with GOA and its industry partners in a unified effort to finally abolish this unconstitutional infringement on our rights. Together, we are committed to restoring and protecting the freedoms that are rightfully ours.”
GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.
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