Congress·In Committee·S. 345

Congress Proposes Removing Federal Taxes and Registration Requirements for Gun Silencers

SHUSH Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

This bill, introduced by Senator Lee, would change how the federal government regulates gun silencers. Instead of being treated like highly restricted firearms, silencers would be classified as simple gun accessories, similar to a scope or a holster.
Currently, people who want to buy a silencer must pay a $200 tax, submit fingerprints to the government, and wait for a special background check. This law would eliminate that tax and the requirement to register silencers in a federal database.
The proposal would stop states and local governments from creating their own taxes or registration systems for silencers. This would create a single national standard where silencers are treated as hearing protection tools rather than dangerous weapons.
If the bill becomes law, the government would refund the $200 tax to anyone who bought a silencer in the two years before the law started. It also removes extra prison penalties that are currently added to sentences for crimes committed while using a silencer.
The bill also ensures that silencers are not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, treating them the same as firearms which are already exempt from that agency's rules.

Gun PolicyTaxesConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Criminal Record

Neutral

Removes extra prison time for crimes committed with a silencer, but silencers would still be illegal for prohibited persons.

Positive Impacts(2)

Gun Owner

Helps

Gun owners could buy silencers without paying a $200 tax, registering them, or waiting for a special background check.

Small Business Owner

Helps

Firearms dealers and manufacturers would face less paperwork and regulatory burden when selling silencers.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 30, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Jan 30, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

7 articles

Breitbart·about 1 year ago

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Cloud, Sen. Lee Introduce Bill To Remove Firearm Suppressor Regulations

Rep. Mike Cloud and Sen. Mike Lee introduced the SHUSH Act to eliminate federal regulations on suppressors, treating them as standard accessories. The bill seeks to end the $200 transfer tax, registration requirements, and 9-12 month waiting periods currently mandated under the NFA.

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Guns.com·about 1 year ago

SHUSH Act in Senate would Treat Suppressors as Accessories

The Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing (SHUSH) Act, filed as S. 345, aims to deregulate suppressors under both the NFA and GCA. The bill includes a provision to refund the $200 transfer tax for those who purchased suppressors in the two years prior to the bill's enactment.

SOFREP·about 1 year ago

Understanding the SHUSH Act: An Attempt To Loosen Federal Regulations on Suppressors

A detailed analysis of the SHUSH Act's legislative goals, including the removal of silencers from the National Firearms Act. The article explores the debate between proponents who view silencers as safety equipment and critics who fear deregulation could complicate law enforcement efforts.

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