Gun owners just witnessed the U.S. Senate roll over and allow the gutting of the strongest gun rights policy in a century.
The “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4th, nearly delivered one of the most significant pro-gun victories in a decade.
During this process, our Federal affiliates at the National Association for Gun Rights worked on removing suppressors from the dreaded National Firearms Act, along with short-barreled weapons.
When the House of Representatives started drafting, language was inserted to deregulate suppressors by removing them from the NFA in addition to virtually eliminating the $200 tax stamp. The bill was passed through the House and sent to the Senate.
After days of grassroots gun rights supporters bombarding senators with phone calls, petition deliveries signed by gun rights activists like you, and lobbying the Senate Finance Committee by NAGR staff, the Senate improved a conservative bill by including SHORT Act which, in addition to the language to deregulate suppressors, would have removed short-barreld rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons from the NFA as well.
What happened next is an example of cowardice on the part of the Senate leadership and Senate Republicans as a whole. The Senate Parliamentarian (an unelected bureaucrat) stripped the suppressor and short-barreled weapons language out of the bill. The Parliamentarian’s “ruling” is more like a suggestion, as senators can object to her ruling and proceed.
The betrayal came from Republican Leadership refusing to do exactly that, even when they overruled her in other scenarios on this exact bill.
Republicans in the Senate, especially Majority Leader John Thune, were far too happy to roll over and toss crumbs to the gun rights community by removing the $200 tax stamp.
You still have to register, submit fingerprints, and all the other bureaucratic measures currently required all while waiting for these items to be approved by government agents.
The original language would have dismantled this unconstitutional scheme completely.
The result is anything but a permanent win for gun rights.
Republican Senators are just lowering the tax on such accessories, which gives Democrats a chance to reimplement and even raise this tax once in power.
Over the past few days, many Senators and Representatives have voiced strong support or opposition to certain aspects of this bill.
Unfortunately for Florida, not a single member of the Federal delegation took any serious action to fully restore the 2A language. The Republican Party of Florida, which brands itself as leading the way for the Conservative movement, was utterly silent.
Even less surprising, not even a State Rep or Senator has come to voice their support for gun rights.
After all, these are the same Republican legislators in Tallahassee who flat-out rejected Governor Ron DeSantis’ demands to legalize Open Carry and to repeal the unconstitutional “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation law in Florida.
It’s clear that our work to restore the Second Amendment in Florida is cut out for us, and the upcoming elections in Florida will be a crucial step in this effort.
Florida Gun Rights staff is working around the clock on accountability programs so the 2A voices across the state will be heard.
The need to expose politicians who campaign on the 2nd Amendment but do nothing after they’re elected is crucial, and your role in the upcoming elections is vital.
Please donate whatever you can to maintain the political ammo in this fight, whether it’s $20, $40, or $60.
