Some 60 members of the Democratic Caucus this week called on Senate committees to remove the suppressor reform language from the pending reconciliation package.
Popularly known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," H.R.1 slid through the House last month in a 215-214 partisan vote. Among its more than 1,100 pages of tax and budget policy is Sec. 112029, a text copied from the Hearing Protection Act, which would remove suppressors from 91 years of NFA regulation.
The section, widely supported by pro-gun groups and suppressor advocates, is drawing flak from Democrats who are urging its deletion as the package moves through the Senate.
"This change, which was ultimately included in the legislation, would be catastrophic to public safety and greatly impede law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe,” argues a letter, sent to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley this week by a group of 60 Dems on Capitol Hill.
The lawmakers argue that the suppressor language doesn't pass the so-called "Byrd Rule" under the Congressional Budget Act, which bars non-budgetary provisions from reconciliation legislation, bills that can be passed with a simple majority vote.
"Removing the regulatory structure for firearm silencers is thus not only dangerous but blatantly violative of the Byrd Rule," contends the letter. "Put simply, the provision represents a clear attempt to make a significant policy change to a century-old law and cannot be adopted through the reconciliation process on that basis alone."
According to a press release on the letter from House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo), one of its signatories, the call to remove the suppressor language from HR.1 is supported by all the big-name national anti-gun groups, including Brady, Everytown, and Giffords.
On the other side of the argument, Gun Owners of America sent a letter this week to Crapo and Senate Majority Leader John Thune advocating not only for the Hearing Protection Act-- with the provision added that ensures that gun owners in anti-gun states are protected when purchasing suppressors under federal law -- but also the SHORT Act, which would eliminate restrictions on short-barreled firearms.
"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle the worst parts of the NFA and protect millions of gun owners from outdated, abusive laws. GOA is proud to lead this coalition, and we’re calling on Senate Republicans to finish the job and deliver for the grassroots," said Aidan Johnston, GOA's Director of Federal Affairs.
For disclosure, Guns.com has gone on record as supporting the HPA and SHORT Act.
Banner image: Taurus TX22 Compact with a SilencerCo Switchback in its short configuration and CCI Sub-Sonic Clean polymer-coated .22LR rimfire ammunition. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
