Today the ATF sent an open letter to all FFLs with monumental news.
Starting today, October 9, 2026, the ATF will no longer require NFA approval before anyone makes or transfers a suppressor, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or AOW. It will also stop requiring those items to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The policy applies nationwide to every gun owner, not only to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to it.
Without a doubt, it’s one of the biggest wins for the 2nd Amendment in a long, long time!
One of the Biggest Wins in Years
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut the $200 tax on these items to $0 at the start of 2026. On August 5, a federal judge ruled in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF that once the tax was gone, the NFA’s registration and approval requirements for these items were unconstitutional. The ruling blocked ATF from enforcing those requirements against the plaintiffs. The Department of Justice decided not to appeal, and today’s guidance applies the result to everyone.
What rules haven’t changed?
Suppressors and SBRs are still firearms under federal law, so buying one from a dealer still requires a Form 4473 and a background check. State and local laws still apply, and many states ban or restrict these items. Machine guns and destructive devices are still fully regulated.
Registration is now voluntary, but the ATF will keep processing Form 1 and Form 4 applications from owners who must register for state law compliance. ATF also says this is an enforcement policy that could change, and unregistered items may not be eligible for registration later.
To learn more about the guidance, or to read the full letter from the ATF, click here!
