The move came just as Democrats in the House ramped up efforts to strip the Hearing Protection Act (HPA)—a long-sought pro-gun reform that would eliminate the burdensome $200 tax on suppressors—from the bill entirely.

And it was Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) that first broke the story, confirming that SBR deregulation was buried deep in the new Senate draft, mirroring the core goals of the SHORT Act introduced in prior sessions of Congress.

“If we actually get the SHORT Act added to the BBB along with the HPA, this might be the gun rights win of my lifetime,” tweeted Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy), a leading Second Amendment advocate. “And that is not an exaggeration.”

What’s in the Senate’s Version?

Page 263 of the Senate text makes it plain: individuals who acquire or possess SBRs, short-barreled shotguns, or other NFA-designated firearms in accordance with federal law will be exempt from state and local licensing requirements—effectively nullifying the most oppressive layers of regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA).

This move follows Texas’s own lead. Last month, Texas passed SB 1596, a bill decriminalizing SBRs at the state level, with strong support from TXGR and Gun Owners of America.

“Washington should follow Texas’s lead,” said Chris McNutt, president of Texas Gun Rights. “The NFA is a relic of FDR-era gun control extremism. This is the right time to chip away at its unconstitutional grip on law-abiding gun owners.”

Democrats Move to Strip Suppressor Deregulation

But while the Senate was advancing one piece of the gun rights puzzle, Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were already working overtime to rip the Hearing Protection Act from the bill—citing procedural rules and fearmongering about so-called “silencers.”

“Schumer’s claims are ill-informed at best — and idiotic at worst,” McNutt said. “Suppressors don’t silence anything. They simply reduce the deafening report of a firearm to a safer level. That’s not dangerous — it’s responsible.”

While Europe encourages suppressor use for hearing safety, American gun owners face federal taxes and red tape for buying the same hearing protection devices.

Indeed, many on the Left have called for increasing the $200 tax, not eliminating it—suggesting it should be adjusted for inflation, not repealed.

“This isn’t about crime or safety,” McNutt said. “It’s about pricing responsible gun ownership out of reach.”

Call to Action: Hold the Line

As the Senate finalizes the bill, Texas Gun Rights is urging pro-gun Americans to call Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz with a clear message: Keep the SHORT Act language and the Hearing Protection Act fully intact.

The next few days could shape the future of the Second Amendment for a generation.

Call Your Senators NOW:

Sen. Ted Cruz – (202) 224-5922

Tell them to stand firm against Schumer’s attacks and hold the line on both the SHORT Act and the Hearing Protection Act.

“Gun owners are watching,” McNutt warned. “And we won’t forget who stood for freedom — and who folded.”