Federal Judge Rules NFA Registration Unconstitutional After Tax Elimination
U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix has ruled that the National Firearms Act's (NFA) registration requirements for certain firearms are unconstitutional following Congress's decision to eliminate associated taxes. The ruling affects suppressors, short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and any other weapons, as the tax reduction removes the constitutional basis for these registration requirements. The decision marks a significant challenge to the NFA, which has been in place since 1934. The ruling includes a permanent injunction against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), although the injunction is currently stayed pending potential appellate relief.