Silencer sales up 265%, will surge under ‘big, beautiful bill’ – Washington Examiner
Teh article discusses the significant increase in silencer (suppressor) sales in the United States, which have surged by 265% recently. this growth is expected to accelerate further following the removal of the $200 federal tax on suppressors and certain short-barreled rifles, as part of a legislative package known as the “big, beautiful bill” signed into law under President Donald Trump. Despite the tax removal, suppressors still require federal registration and approval, including background checks.
Industry representatives, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), highlight that suppressors are increasingly popular for hearing protection during shooting and hunting, aligning with practices recommended in some European countries. While suppressors do not completely silence gunshots, they reduce noise to safer levels for shooters’ hearing.
However, gun owners were disappointed that the bill did not eliminate suppressors and short-barreled rifles from the National Firearms Act (NFA), an older law mandating registration and approval from the Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco, firearms and Explosives (ATF), which can be a lengthy process.The industry is pursuing legal action and legislative efforts to further ease restrictions on suppressors and related firearms.
the article portrays a growing acceptance and demand for suppressors in the U.S. gun market, driven by both regulatory changes and increased awareness of their benefits for hearing protection.
Silencer sales up 265%, will surge under ‘big, beautiful bill’
Americans eager to quiet their firearms have been buying “silencers” at a historic rate, and that is expected to surge more once the tax is removed under President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that was signed into law.
Industry officials told Secrets that there is a growing demand for suppressors as gun owners seek out hearing protection devices.
Under the bill, the $200 federal tax on suppressors and some other popular items, including short-barreled rifles such as AR-15-style pistols, will soon be eliminated, though federal registration and approval will continue to be required.
Industry spokesman Mark Oliva, with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said that recent attention to the benefits of using suppressors at gun ranges and hunting, as some European nations recommend, is boosting sales. And cutting the tax should help more.
“The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill will remove a significant barrier to lawful suppressor and firearm ownership, when it is ultimately implemented, that we believe has kept many on the sidelines, especially when it comes to suppressor purchases,” Oliva told Secrets.
“There are over 413,000 suppressors entered into the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the central registry for all items regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). That figure has grown steadily, especially in recent years as more people learn the benefits of using suppressors. A recent NSSF study found a 265% surge in annual suppressor registrations. We would expect this increase to grow more sharply with the $200 tax stamp barrier removed,” Oliva added.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle one of the most abusive federal gun control laws on the books,” said @erichmpratt, GOA’s senior vice president. “With the tax struck down by Congress, the rest of the NFA is standing on air.” https://t.co/jMP3acDSnp pic.twitter.com/tJIDCe7eQ5
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) July 10, 2025
The devices can be expensive. They are commonly $800 to $1,200 each.
Despite claims from critics, such as uninformed Democratic and liberal gun control advocates, the devices do not “silence” shots, but can tone down the sound to the point where hearing protection isn’t needed while shooting.
While removing the tax was a big win for the industry, the House and Senate disappointed gun owners when they cut proposals to pull suppressors and short-barreled rifles from the National Firearms Act. That Al Capone-era law requires registration and approval from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives which can take weeks.
The FBI also requires a background check for buyers of the firearms and suppressors.
The industry has already filed lawsuits and is working with supportive lawmakers to change the NFA requirements.
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“The work isn’t done,” said Oliva.
“NSSF is committed to passing the Hearing Protection Act and the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act to remove unnecessary and outdated barriers to suppressor and firearm ownership,” he said.
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