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Texas court ruling strikes down federal firearm suppressor registration
A federal court ruling in Texas has taken effect, striking down registration requirements for firearm suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. The decision follows the U.S. Department of Justice's choice not to file an immediate appeal or seek a stay before a court-ordered deadline.
U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix ruled that provisions of the 1934 National Firearms Act are unconstitutional because the $200 permit tax previously used to justify the regulations was eliminated by Congress. The ruling applies to the plaintiffs, entities closely associated with them, and future customers of the retailers involved in the lawsuit.
While gun rights advocates celebrate the decision as a victory for the Second Amendment, gun control organizations have condemned the move, arguing it makes dangerous accessories easier to obtain. The Justice Department stated it is assessing the impact of the ruling and maintains the right to file an appeal within the next seven weeks.
Entities
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives · Giffords · Gun Owners of America · James Wesley Hendrix · U.S. Department of Justice · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The government retains the right to file an appeal within the next seven weeks. abcnews.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The ruling strikes down federal registration and fingerprinting requirements for firearm suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. abcnews.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Justice Department declined to file an immediate appeal or seek a stay against the ruling by the Thursday deadline. abcnews.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The regulations in the 1934 National Firearms Act are unconstitutional because the underlying $200 tax was eliminated by Congress. abcnews.com · keyt.com · krdo.com · freerepublic.com
- [DISPUTED] The order applies to plaintiffs, entities closely associated with them, and future customers of the involved sellers. keyt.com · krdo.com