DOJ allows key gun law to lapse following court ruling

What This is

• A U.S. district judge in Texas ruled that parts of the National Firearms Act (NFA) covering suppressors and some short-barreled rifles and shotguns are unconstitutional.
• The judge’s order took effect after the Justice Department did not appeal or seek a pause by a short court deadline, though DOJ still has time to appeal later.
• The judge limited the relief mainly to the plaintiffs and closely connected parties, not the whole country, which has left gun owners and dealers unclear about who is covered.
• The court said the NFA’s registration scheme lost its constitutional footing after Congress reduced the law’s making and transfer taxes to $0.
• Some plaintiffs and dealers began transferring or buying suppressors without NFA registration once the order took effect, including late-night or “midnight” sales reported after the deadline passed.
• Gun-rights groups and firearms businesses celebrated the decision, while gun-safety groups warned it could weaken long-standing federal controls and invite broader legal challenges.
• State laws still matter: in states with their own bans, like California, strict state restrictions can continue even if federal registration requirements loosen for some people.

Why This Matters

• It can change how tightly the federal government can regulate gun accessories and certain firearms that have long faced extra controls.
• It tests how courts treat gun laws that were built around taxes and registration when Congress removes the tax.
• Uneven coverage of who is protected can create compliance risks for dealers and buyers who do not want to commit a serious federal crime.
• The fight raises a basic question of public safety versus gun rights: how much extra screening should apply to items that can affect concealment and handling of gunfire.