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On July 1, 2025, the Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax and budget package that also delivers major changes to federal firearms regulations. The bill now heads back to the House, where it faces potential pushback — but its firearms provisions have already sparked fierce national debate.
What Firearms Changes Are in the Bill?
The biggest shift:
Elimination of the $200 tax under the National Firearms Act (NFA) on:
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Short-barreled shotguns
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Silencers (suppressors)
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Covert guns disguised as ordinary objects (like pens, canes, lighters)
However:
❌ Background checks and registration requirements for these items remain in place after a Senate parliamentarian ruling.
❌ Machine guns and destructive devices like grenade launchers and explosives continue to face strict NFA regulation.
Why This Matters
For nearly a century, the National Firearms Act of 1934 tightly regulated these categories of weapons. Supporters of deregulation argue the NFA’s taxes and paperwork infringe on Second Amendment rights. Opponents contend these restrictions help keep rarely used — but especially dangerous — weapons off American streets.
Notably, a silencer was used in a high-profile killing earlier this year, reigniting debate over loosening regulations on suppressors and other concealable firearms.
ATF Restructuring and Industry Oversight
The Trump administration’s broader plan includes:
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Slashing nearly a quarter of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) budget
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Eliminating two-thirds of ATF inspectors, drastically reducing oversight of the nation’s 130,000+ licensed gun dealers
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Proposing a controversial merger of the ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Many in the firearms industry and law enforcement community worry the merger could result in stricter enforcement under the DEA or jeopardize federal crime gun tracing capabilities.
What’s Next?
The bill now returns to the House of Representatives, where some Republicans and Democrats may attempt to modify or block the firearms provisions. With slim margins in both chambers, the outcome remains uncertain — but this legislation represents one of the most significant shifts in federal gun policy in decades.
Key Takeaway
If enacted, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would:
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Remove federal taxes on select NFA-regulated firearms
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Leave machine gun restrictions intact
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Weaken ATF oversight on gun dealers and manufacturers
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Potentially deregulate rare, highly concealable weapons
Gun rights advocates hail it as a victory. Gun control proponents warn it’s a public safety risk.
