10/13/2026
Here is an example of a letter you can send to your legislators to make all these non-enforcement policies permanent.
Dear Senator/Representative [Last Name],
I am writing to request that Congress take legislative action to permanently remove short-barreled ri**es (SBRs), short-barreled sh****ns (SBSs), Any Other Weapons (AOWs), and fi***rm silencers from regulation under the National Fi****ms Act of 1934.
On October 9, 2026, the Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives announced that it would no longer enforce certain NFA registration, making, and transfer requirements for these items. This decision followed the federal courtâs ruling in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF and Congressâs earlier elimination of the making and transfer taxes on these categories of fi***rms and devices.
While this represents a significant development, it does not provide a permanent legislative solution.
Administrative nonenforcement is not the same as statutory repeal.
The underlying provisions of the NFA remain in federal law. ATF has expressly acknowledged that future changes in enforcement policy, judicial decisions, or congressional action could expose individuals who lawfully acquired these items under the current policy to serious criminal penalties.
This uncertainty is unacceptable for American citizens, federally licensed fi***rms dealers, manufacturers, and law enforcement agencies.
I am requesting that Congress introduce and support legislation that:
1. Permanently removes SBRs, SBSs, AOWs, and fi***rm silencers from the definitions and regulatory requirements of the National Fi****ms Act.
2. Eliminates NFA registration, tax-stamp, and prior-approval requirements for these items.
3. Addresses corresponding provisions of the Gun Control Act that impose additional restrictions on their lawful transfer and interstate transportation.
4. Establishes clear protections for individuals who lawfully acquired or manufactured these items under the current federal nonenforcement policy.
5. Provides a clear statutory framework for existing registrations, lawful transfers, and continued ownership without creating new criminal exposure.
These changes would not eliminate the existing federal background-check requirements applicable to licensed dealer transfers, nor would they eliminate the longstanding prohibitions against possession by individuals who are legally prohibited from possessing fi***rms.
Instead, they would establish a consistent and predictable federal legal framework.
We are currently operating under federal guidance that permits transactions today while acknowledging the possibility that those same transactions could become legally problematic under a future administration.
That is not a sustainable system of law.
Furthermore, the current situation creates unnecessary complications for states whose statutes reference federal NFA registration. Louisiana is one example where state laws and federal administrative policy must now be reconciled.
Congress has already taken the important first step by eliminating the making and transfer taxes. The federal courtâs subsequent decision and ATFâs nationwide nonenforcement guidance demonstrate why further legislative action is necessary.
Congress should now finish the work by removing these four categories from the NFA permanently.
I respectfully request that your office consider sponsoring or cosponsoring legislation to accomplish this objective.
I would also appreciate a response explaining your position on this issue and whether you intend to support legislation providing a permanent statutory solution.
Respectfully
