National Firearms Act (NFA)
The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) requires the registration, with the federal government, of fully-automatic firearms (termed “machineguns”), rifles and shotguns that have an overall length under 26 inches, rifles with a barrel under 16 inches, shotguns with a barrel under 18 inches, and firearm sound suppressors (termed “silencers”). The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) placed “destructive devices” (primarily explosives and the like, but also including firearms over .50 caliber, other than most shotguns) under the provisions of the NFA. In 1994, the Treasury Department placed revolving-cylinder shotguns and one semi-automatic shotgun under the NFA.
The GCA prohibited the importation of fully-automatic firearms for private purposes and a 1986 amendment to the Act prohibited the domestic manufacture of fully-automatics for private purposes. However, short-barreled rifles and shotguns have becoming increasingly popular for home defense and defensive-skills-based marksmanship training and competitions, and sound suppressors have become increasingly popular for marksmanship training and competitions, and for hunting.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) and several Democratic cosponsors have reintroduced the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act. ...
Monday, June 8, 2026
On Tuesday, June 9th, the House Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing on SB 214, legislation to ...
Friday, May 8, 2026
Next week, the Ohio General Assembly will return to session after its spring recess.
Monday, May 4, 2026
The National Rifle Association joined the Second Amendment Foundation, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Second Amendment Law Center, ...
Thursday, April 2, 2026
The National Rifle Association joined the Second Amendment Foundation, American Suppressor Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Second ...
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Today and Thursday are the last legislative days of the Georgia General Assembly, with Thursday marking the final ...
Thursday, March 26, 2026
With only three legislative days remaining—Friday, March 27; Tuesday, March 31; and Thursday, April 2 (Sine Die)—Senate Bill ...
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Today, The Senate passed SB 214 by a vote of 31-1, legislation to remove firearm suppressors from the ...
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Today, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed Senate Bill 499, important pro-Second Amendment legislation. The bill will now ...
Monday, March 9, 2026
On Friday March 6th, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 499, ahead of the crossover deadline for bills to ...
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