Gun owners walked out of a Texas firearms dealer with silencers just after midnight Thursday without completing federal registration for the first time since 1934, marking what lawmakers call the greatest Second Amendment victory in American history.

Historic Transfers Break Nine Decades of Federal Control

Brandon Herrera and Texas State Representative Wes Virdell acquired suppressors from Silencer Shop in Leander, Texas, becoming the first Americans in 92 years to legally obtain these items without National Firearms Act registration. Previously, such actions would have resulted in up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 fines per violation. Gun Owners of America and Silencer Shop immediately implemented the court ruling that struck down registration requirements as unconstitutional.

Representative Andrew Clyde attended the midnight transfers and confirmed the Trump administration would not appeal the decision. The Georgia Republican, who helped write legislation enabling the court victory, declared it a monumental day for constitutional rights. The Justice Department’s decision not to challenge the ruling ensures the changes will stand.

Legal Strategy Exploited Tax Elimination

The victory stems from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which reduced National Firearms Act transfer taxes to zero dollars for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns starting January 1, 2026. Gun Owners of America filed suit the same day Trump signed the legislation, arguing registration requirements cannot constitutionally apply to weapons with no underlying tax. Aidan Johnston, Gun Owners of America’s federal affairs director, explained that zero-dollar taxes raise no revenue and therefore aren’t legitimate taxes at all.

Fifteen states joined the legal challenge against federal regulations. The Justice Department defended the registration system by claiming remaining NFA taxes and congressional authority over interstate commerce justified continued restrictions. The court rejected those arguments, finding the registration scheme unconstitutional without the tax foundation Congress eliminated.

What This Means for Gun Owners

The ruling represents the first major rollback of National Firearms Act restrictions since the law’s 1934 enactment. Gun rights advocates promise continued legal challenges to remaining federal firearms regulations. Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president, declared that the era of federal registration for constitutionally protected arms must end. The organization initially sought broader deregulation through the reconciliation package, but Senate rules limited the final legislation to tax elimination rather than full repeal of registration requirements.