Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Congress·In Committee·H.R. 404

Rep. Cline Introduces Hearing Protection Act to Remove Federal Restrictions on Gun Silencers

Hearing Protection Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill removes silencers (also called suppressors) from the list of strictly regulated items under the National Firearms Act. Currently treated like machine guns, silencers would instead be regulated more like ordinary rifles and shotguns, making them far easier to buy.

    From policy text

    “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove silencers from the definition of firearms, and for other purposes.”
    View in full text
  • Buyers would no longer need to pay the current $200 federal tax or go through the special, months-long NFA registration process. Instead, they'd only need to pass a standard background check, the same one used for most gun purchases.

    From policy text

    “A person acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer in accordance with chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, shall be treated as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer.”
    View in full text
  • The government would be required to destroy all existing records tracking legal silencer owners within one year of the bill becoming law. This would permanently delete the national database of silencer registrations, transfer applications, and maker applications.

    From policy text

    “Not later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall destroy any registration of a silencer maintained in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record pursuant to section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986”
    View in full text
  • States would be blocked from imposing their own special taxes, registration requirements, or recordkeeping rules on silencers. However, states could still apply their general sales taxes.

    From policy text

    “a law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that imposes a tax, other than a generally applicable sales or use tax, on making, transferring, using, possessing, or transporting a firearm silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or imposes a marking, recordkeeping or registration requirement with respect to such a firearm silencer, shall have no force or effect.”
    View in full text
  • While the $200 flat NFA tax goes away, silencers would be added to the list of items subject to a 10% federal excise tax on manufacturers and importers — the same tax that funds wildlife conservation through the Pittman-Robertson Act.

    From policy text

    “Section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end of the list relating to ``Articles taxable at 10 percent'' the following: ``Firearm silencers or firearm mufflers.''”
    View in full text
  • The changes would take effect for purchases made in the first full calendar quarter starting more than 90 days after the bill is signed into law, giving the industry and regulators time to adjust.

    From policy text

    “The amendment made by this section shall apply to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.”
    View in full text
Gun PolicyTaxes

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 15, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced in House

Related Bills

2 bills
H.R. 631Related bill

PARTS Act of 2025

Jan 22 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 364Related bill

Hearing Protection Act

Feb 3 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Hearing Protection Act

Bill NumberHR 404
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(116)
D: 1R: 115

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.