SHUSH Act: Will the New Bill Change Suppressor Regulations?
The SHUSH Act seeks to remove suppressors from NFA restrictions, making them easier and cheaper to own. Will it pass? Learn more about the bill!
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Lawmakers introduced a new bill aimed at deregulating suppressors and treating them like firearm accessories.
Introduced on January 30, “Silencers Help Us Save Hearing Act” would classify suppressors as gun accessories, therefore removing them from under the purview of the National Firearms Act.
The SHUSH Act would erase all federal, local, and state restrictions on suppressors. This means that record-keeping, marking, and registration laws would no longer be needed.
Additionally, the bill would allow active and retired law enforcement personnel to carry concealed suppressors.
Currently, suppressors are classified under the NFA. This means that to own one, consumers must first fill out paperwork and pay a $200 tax stamp, then wait for approval from the ATF.
The SHUSH Act would, therefore, make suppressor ownership easier, accessible, and cheaper.
U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) said that suppressors are not scary like Hollywood has made them out to be but, instead, are essential tools everyday gun owners should be able to use.
"Suppressors are a vital tool for responsible gun owners that protect hearing, enhance safety, and reduce firearm noise—but thanks to Hollywood and federal overreach, they’ve been unfairly vilified,” Cloud said in a statement.
"Law-abiding Americans shouldn’t have to endure months of red tape and pay an additional tax just to access a safety accessory. The SHUSH Act puts an end to this unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, eliminates the federal tax, and prevents state overreach by treating suppressors like any other firearm accessory."
But opponents disagree.
“Silencers pose a significant danger in the wrong hands,” Everytown for Gun Safety said on its site.
“They make it harder for bystanders or law enforcement to identify and react quickly to gunshots. Policymakers should block the gun lobby’s dangerous efforts to deregulate silencers.”
This isn’t the first time the bill has graced the congressional floor. It appeared in 2019, 2021, and July 2024.
For now, the SHUSH Act has been referred to the Committee on Finance.
What do you think of the SHUSH Act? Sound off in the comments below. Interested in getting your own suppressor, check out the Best 9mm & .45 ACP Suppressors, Best AR-15 Suppressors, and our guide to How to Buy A Suppressor.