GOA Blasts House Ways & Means Committee for Betraying Gun Owners with Unacceptable Suppressor Tax Compromise 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 12, 2025 

Washington, D.C. — Gun Owners of America (GOA) today slammed the House Ways and Means Committee for choosing to protect unconstitutional gun registrations rather than ending an archaic infringement on the Second Amendment by advancing a so-called “compromise” provision that falls short of fully repealing the unconstitutional tax on suppressors and other firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). 

The newly released language, part of the broader tax package, reduces the transfer tax on suppressors to $0, but maintains a $200 tax on most other NFA firearms and codifies a reduced $5 tax on others. GOA has been working for months to ensure full deregulation of suppressors and the protection of pistol braces through reconciliation, providing detailed legal analysis to prove such reforms would pass Byrd Rule scrutiny. 

GOA will continue to push for the full repeal of all NFA taxes and regulations, including the unjust $200 transfer tax on lawfully owned firearms and accessories. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“This isn’t a compromise, it’s a betrayal. The House Ways and Means Committee chose to leave unconstitutional registration and taxes in place even though they had a clear path to repeal them. GOA made it crystal clear that full deregulation of suppressors and protection for brace owners was achievable under reconciliation. Lawmakers knew it, and they chose political convenience over principle. Gun owners won’t forget this.” 

Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“Congress has a clear path to dismantle the National Firearms Act through budget reconciliation because it is a $200 tax—plain and simple. Republicans have no excuse to not gut this unconstitutional law to the fullest extent the Senate Parliamentarian allows; anything less is cowardice and a direct compromise on our Second Amendment rights.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA-