WASHINGTON D.C. – The American Suppressor Association (ASA) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling that the inclusion of the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) and SHORT Act, which would remove suppressors and short-barreled firearms from the unconstitutional National Firearms Act tax scheme, is not compliant with the Byrd Rule and cannot be included in the One Big Beautiful Bill.
“Let’s not mince words – the Senate Parliamentarian got this wrong,” said Knox Williams President and Executive Director of the American Suppressor Association. “Removing suppressors and short-barreled firearms from the NFA tax scheme directly impacts revenues and is unquestionably compliant with the rules of reconciliation. This seemingly politically motivated decision was undoubtedly influenced by fearmongering and disinformation by radical liberals and anti-gun activists. In stripping these provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill, the parliamentarian has unilaterally overruled the majority of lawmakers in both chambers of Congress who would have voted to remove these critical hearing protection devices from this unconstitutional tax regime.
“The American Suppressor Association, alongside our Congressional allies and coalition partners, are exploring every available option and will provide updates as they happen.”
As much as I want the HPA and SHORT to pass, I agree they aren’t complaint with the Byrd Rule. Both have incidental budget impact and both the primary goal is regulatory.
Au contraire. The NFA is a tax act. Changing income from taxes is very much a budgetary issue.
It’s both regulatory and budgetary. Again, incidental effect on the budget.
I believe that in a few cases the tax was argued to be the intent in order to avoid any 2A argument, they can’t have it both ways. This is an attempt to erode support for the bill as a whole, but it’s a great way to fire up a vocal group toward that end.
You aren’t very bright.
If the primary goal was regulatory.. then a law with specific licensure or such should have been passed, not a a tax schema.
I agree but sadly that’s not how it works in the real world.
Well by all means let us not defer to our individual God given liberties enshrined in the framework of our Country but rather a “rule” written by that Grand Old Cyclops himself, Robert Byrd.