Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Called on Lawmakers to Remove Dangerous Provisions from Bill
WASHINGTON — Today, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that language removing silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and “any other weapons” from the National Firearms Act in Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill violates the Senate’s “Byrd Rule.” Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action released the following statements in response:
“In good news for law enforcement and bad news for criminals, silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and other dangerous weapons will continue to be regulated,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Now, lawmakers must ensure similar provisions to undermine our gun safety laws remain out of the final bill.”
“The NFA has regulated silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and other weapons for nearly 100 years for good reason – they put first responders and entire communities at greater risk,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Today is a win for our movement, but our fight isn’t over and we’ll continue to call on our lawmakers to reject any attempt to weaken existing gun laws in this bill.”
The latest development follows advocacy from Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, who called their lawmakers to urge them to drop NFA provisions from the bill. While the provision that would remove silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and other easily concealed weapons from the NFA was determined to violate Senate rules, Republicans could still attempt to weaken NFA regulations on these weapons through the amendment process. Chipping away at one of our nation’s foundational federal gun safety laws is just as dangerous as gutting it, putting both public and officer safety at risk. These attempts should be rejected.
A silencer is a device that helps dampen a firearm’s sound signature and eliminate its muzzle flash by allowing the hot gasses that follow a bullet down the barrel to expand and cool before hitting the air outside of the gun. Silencers work like car mufflers, but for firearms. As a result, silencers make it more difficult for bystanders and police to identify that a gun has been fired or where gunshots originate.
Short-barreled rifles and shotguns are much more powerful than handguns but just as easy to conceal on one’s person, such as under a coat or in a backpack. “Any other weapons” are also designed for concealment and include firearms disguised as other objects, such as pens, umbrellas, and canes.
Because of the danger they pose, each of the weapons has been highly regulated since 1934. People who want to buy or build these firearms these firearms must first submit an application to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with their fingerprints, a passport-style photo, and a $200 tax stamp — a fee that has not been raised or adjusted for inflation since 1934 — and undergo an enhanced background check.