Judge Rules Key NFA Restrictions Unconstitutional & Unenforceable
A lawsuit brought by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and other gun rights advocacy groups in the Northern District of Texas has effectively dismantled parts of the NFA that previously imposed restrictions on suppressors, short barrel rifles, and short barrel shotguns.
The crux of the plaintiffs' legal argument was that these restrictions no longer fall within Congress's constitutional authority, given that Congress zeroed the tax stamp for most NFA items. Therefore, the court ruled that because the restrictions do not aid the government in collecting taxes on affected items, the restrictions themselves are unconstitutional.
Moreover, the court has barred the ATF from enforcing registration requirements, including Form 1 and Form 4 applications as well as fingerprinting and photography mandates. It is important to note, however, that this prohibition only applies to enforcement actions against the plaintiffs, their members, and their customers - at least for now.
What Does The Texas Court Ruling Mean For The Future Of The NFA?
After making their ruling, the judge in this case issued a seven-day stay on the injunction prohibiting enforcement, during which the ATF or the DOJ could file an appeal. However, at the time of writing, no additional filings have been submitted to the court by either party.
Gun Owners of America shared an open letter to the U.S. Attorney General and the director of the ATF stating their intention to begin fulfilling suppressor orders without registration at midnight on August 13, 2026. This means that customers as well as current and future GOA members may purchase a suppressor or an SBR without additional NFA paperwork.
Moreover, this landmark ruling could create precedent for future legal cases that would seek to prohibit enforcement of the NFA against any and all U.S. citizens. If that happens, there would be no registration or restrictions on suppressors and other NFA items at the federal level, making them much easier for the average law-abiding citizen to obtain.
Make no mistake, although the battle is far from over, last week's ruling is still a massive victory for all of us who choose to exercise our Second Amendment rights. Classic Firearms will continue to monitor the situation closely and will share any breaking news with you, our customers, as soon as we are able.
Watch Our Live Stream Ft. John Farhner From GOA
We sat down with John Farhner from GOA to discuss the Texas NFA ruling and he answered tons of viewer questions. If you weren't able to join in as it was happening, be sure to watch the replay below!
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