DOJ leaves in place ruling that deregulates silencers, shotguns
A Texas judge earlier this month issued a ruling that deregulated silencers, shotguns and certain rifles.
The Trump administration has decided not to halt a Texas judge's ruling that deregulates certain firearms, including silencers, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix's August 5 ruling stated that these weapons were deregulated following a one-week deadline that passed on Thursday. Kris Brown, president of gun-control group Brady, criticized the decision, stating that uniquely lethal weapons are now deregulated for the first time in nearly a century.
The Justice Department has yet to decide whether to appeal the ruling. The National Firearms Act, enacted in 1934, primarily regulates the purchase and sale of specialized firearms, requiring registration and imposing taxes. However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act removed the $200 tax on regulated firearms, leading Judge Hendrix to deem the NFA's regulation of these firearms unconstitutional.
Critics argue that this deregulation could lead to these dangerous weapons falling into the wrong hands, potentially posing a threat to public safety.
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