Senate Parliamentarian’s Ruling Sparks Debate Over NFA Tax and Second Amendment Freedoms
In a very low blow to the Second Amendment, the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, has ruled against including the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) and Short Act in the GOP’s reconciliation bill, halting efforts to remove silencers and certain rifles/shotguns from the National Firearms Act (NFA) tax requirements.
Announced early Friday, June 27, 2025, the decision hinges on the Byrd Rule, which limits reconciliation to budget-related measures, challenging claims that the NFA’s $200 tax is purely fiscal.
Historical data from the ATF (2012-2022) shows only 1% of NFA applications denied, suggesting the tax serves as a regulatory barrier rather than a revenue tool.
The ruling has sparked outrage among gun rights supporters, with calls for Senate leadership, including potential intervention by Vice President JD Vance, to override the non-binding decision.
This development echoes the 2001 firing of Parliamentarian Robert Dove, hinting at possible political maneuvers to reshape the bill’s future.
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