Rep. Higgins: ATF's Suppressor Policy Belongs to the Biden Era

Gun industry witnesses testified before Congress on the fallout from a federal court ruling that found National Firearms Act registration and pre-approval requirements for suppressors and short-barreled rifles unconstitutional, following the elimination of the associated $200 tax in the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Representative Clay Higgins said the Justice Department's current posture on suppressors reflects Biden-era ATF enforcement rather than the current administration's stated Second Amendment position, and called for the ATF to give gun dealers and owners clarity following the Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF ruling. American Suppressors Association Executive Director Knox Williams testified that suppressors are essential hearing protection for gun owners and law enforcement, since conventional hearing protection doesn't always prevent permanent damage from firearm noise, and argued that restrictions on short-barreled rifles no longer make sense since handguns were removed from National Firearms Act coverage. National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President Lawrence Kane testified that the number of suppressors in civilian possession has grown to 6.65 million with no corresponding rise in suppressor-related crime, and attributed public concern about the devices to media portrayals rather than data. Retired ATF Deputy Director Peter Forselli said in his law enforcement career he encountered a suppressor at a crime scene only twice, in neither case tied to the commission of a crime. Both Kane and Forselli urged Congress to pass legislation clarifying suppressor and short-barreled rifle policy rather than leaving it to agency discretion under future administrations.