I have a confession until recently I never gave suppressors much thought. I had attended a shoot featuring them, written about them, shot many handguns and rifles equipped with them but only at a recent range session did I begin to appreciate suppressors, mainly because the shooter beside me was using one. And, when he shot, it was not distracting even while I was aiming in on target. The hassle and cost of getting a suppressor had always steered me away from even contemplating one, but now there are more reasons why they are more appealing to me.
There’s been much ado recently about suppressors and what the average Joe must do to obtain one. In years past for many gun owners the hoops and expense just weren’t worth the hassle. However, with the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, 2025 the floodgates are aboutto open.
What We Had
Previously, and as I am writing this in mid-November of 2025, the process to obtain a suppressor went something like this; choose a suppressor you intend to buy as each individual suppressor is registered separately.
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Once the suppressor is chosen you will need to shell out $200 for the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) tax stamp. This stamp also covers short barreled rifles and short barreled shotguns. This tax stamp is paid when the suppressor is ordered.
Choose how the suppressor will be registered, either as an individual or as a NFA Trust. This is often a question for a lawyer who specializes in trusts.
The ATF Form 4 or eForm 4 must then be completed. This is a bit more in depth than a 4473 but the dealer you are purchasing the suppressor from should be able to walk you through the process.
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You will also need to have a passport style photo taken as well as be fingerprinted. Before the internet and the digital age, this was done by utilizing the FD 258 fingerprint cards where local law enforcement was often called upon to lend a hand. The card and the passport photo were sent to the ATF for approval.
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However, today if you live close to one of the more than 1,800 kiosks that the Silencer Shop operates, all of the processes can be handled electronically and saved for future purchases.
An additional tax stamp (yes cough up another $200) is required for each additional suppressor.
In years past the process would take months (sometimes over a year) to receive the go ahead, however, as of late the process has been streamlined and many buyers report their approval in 30 days or less.
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On the Horizon
As stated earlier with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill there was much jockeying to rescind the tax stamp fee and much of the red tape involved with purchasing a suppressor. After the smoke cleared the only thing that has been eliminated has been the $200 tax stamp which is to take effect January 1, 2026. However, there are many lawsuits pending which argue there is no reason to keep the registration process in place other than it is an unconstitutional registration scheme.
In a press release from the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), one of the plaintiffs in just one of the many lawsuits, FPC president Brandon Combs stated, “The right to keep and bear arms isn’t a privilege that the government can tax, track, or ration – it’s a birthright. The NFA’s collapse isn’t just overdue, it’s inevitable. And when it falls, it will remind Washington that freedom isn’t granted by permission slip or registration form, it’s guaranteed by the Constitution.”
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I’m watching with interest to see what happens. Will I have a suppressor on all my firearms? I doubt it, but I am more inclined to purchase and use a suppressor once the tax is removed and even more so if the additional paperwork goes away.