ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 13: Chris Patrie looks at the Benelli display of shotguns during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits April 13, 2012 at the America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 60,000 people are expected to attend the convention, which runs through Sunday. Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum are all scheduled to speak. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
The House GOP mega budget bill has an unusual provision – it repeals taxes on gun silencers.
The GOP and President Donald Trump’s mega bill largely seeks to cut taxes and spending on healthcare. Eliminating the tax on gun silencers is an unusual addition that surprised many observers.
The average gun silencer costs around $830. Current law levies a tax of $200 on each purchase. Eliminating the tax would end up costing $1.4 billion over a decade.
The tax on silencers has been enforced since 1934, when Congress passed the National Firearms Act. Since then, there have been 4.5 million silencers registered as of 2024. The National Rifle Association supports the tax elimination.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Giffords, an organization led by former Rep. Gabby Gifford (D-Arizona), which works to prevent gun violence and advocate for the cause, supports maintaining the tax. Giffords has stated that silencers make it harder for law enforcement to locate and react to active shooters.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-California) argued that silencers make it more difficult for shooting victims to locate the shots’ origins as they try to find cover. Thompson, a veteran, hunter, and gun owner, argues that it is simply a giveaway to the gun industry.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) have not commented on the elimination of tax.
The House mega bill is making its way through the chamber. To become law, it would require approval from the Senate and Trump’s signature.
Last month, former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) announced his run for Senate. Allred previously lost…
Former President Joe Biden said he had granted every pardon and commutation issued at the…
Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was confirmed…
Following the recent passage of the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” President Donald Trump has instructed the…
After Elon Musk announced plans to create a third political party, the Tesla and SpaceX…
The Trump administration sued California’s Department of Education last week over the state’s policy permitting…
