Texas Judge Strikes Down NFA Registration for Silencers, Rifles on August 13

A Texas federal judge has effectively deregulated silencers, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns by striking down their registration requirements under the 92-year-old National Firearms Act. On August 5, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix ruled these restrictions unconstitutional after Congress eliminated the $200 federal transfer and manufacturing tax on these items in 2025. The Trump administration declined to appeal by the August 12 deadline, allowing the injunction to take effect on August 13.

What the Texas ruling changed

Judge Hendrix determined that without an active tax collection mechanism, the federal government lacks constitutional authority to mandate NFA registration, fingerprinting, and background checks for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons. The ruling stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, which reduced the NFA transfer and manufacturing taxes to zero dollars. The judge issued a permanent injunction blocking ATF and DOJ enforcement against specific parties in the consolidated cases Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF and Jensen v. ATF.

Who can act now under the injunction

The injunction applies to named parties and their customers, members, and agencies. Covered parties include Silencer Shop Foundation, Palmetto State Armory, SilencerCo, Gun Owners of America, and 20 Republican-led states including Texas, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. However, the injunction is party-specific, not nationwide. Acting on this ruling when you are not a covered party remains a federal felony carrying up to ten years in prison, a $10,000 fine, and firearm forfeiture.

DOJ’s decision not to appeal

The Trump administration had a seven-day window to seek emergency relief from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. That deadline expired at midnight on August 12. A Justice Department spokesperson stated the department is “assessing the impact of the court’s ruling” but declined to seek a stay. The DOJ retains the right to appeal the decision on the merits, though nearly 50 Republican lawmakers urged the department not to appeal.

Gun control groups sound alarm

Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, and GIFFORDS condemned the DOJ’s inaction, warning that silencers and easily concealable weapons can now reach the wrong hands. Brady President Kris Brown stated: “At midnight, uniquely lethal weapons and devices were deregulated for the first time in nearly a century.” Gun control advocates note that silencers, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns are rarely used in crimes today because of NFA restrictions. The ruling also complicates state enforcement: states like Alaska, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, and Washington have laws that require federal NFA registration, making suppressor purchases legally impossible until those states revise their laws.

Final Thoughts

The Trump administration’s decision not to appeal a Texas ruling that deregulates silencers and short-barreled rifles marks a historic shift in federal firearms enforcement. Gun control groups warn of public safety risks, while Second Amendment advocates celebrate the outcome. The ruling applies only to named parties and states, leaving nationwide enforcement in legal limbo.

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