Americans will no longer need federal approval to make or own suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and certain other firearms. This marks a departure from a regulatory system that has existed for more than 90 years.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the change on Oct. 9 in new guidance explaining how it will enforce the National Firearms Act (NFA) after a federal judge blocked key approval and registration requirements in the Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF case.
In an accompanying open letter, ATF Director Robert Cekada said that although the court’s injunction applies only to the parties involved in the lawsuit, the agency decided to extend the same treatment to everyone….