Suppressing the Second Amendment: Examining DOJ's Posture Toward Firearm Suppressors

This GOP Oversight subcommittee hearing on September 2, 2026, focused on the federal government's regulatory posture toward firearm suppressors, particularly the Department of Justice's continued defense of suppressor registration requirements despite recent legislative and judicial changes. Witnesses from the American Suppressor Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation discussed the health benefits of suppressors as hearing protection devices and argued that suppressors are constitutionally protected under the Second Amendment. They highlighted the elimination of the $200 tax on suppressors by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, but noted that registration requirements and felony penalties remain, leading to prosecutions such as the case of George Peterson. The hearing addressed the need for updated DOJ and ATF guidance following a Texas federal court ruling that declared suppressor registration unconstitutional due to the zero tax, and called for legislative reforms including the Hearing Protection Act to remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act. Law enforcement testimony emphasized that suppressors are rarely used in crimes and that enforcement resources should focus on violent criminals rather than suppressor owners. The discussion included concerns about the legal and regulatory confusion affecting manufacturers, dealers, and consumers, and urged Congress to act to clarify and modernize suppressor laws to protect lawful owners and reduce unnecessary prosecutions.