Just days after the Senate approved a watered-down version of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) wasted no time unveiling his plan to hammer law-abiding gun owners with a $4,709 tax on suppressors and short-barreled firearms — items still classified under the outdated and unconstitutional National Firearms Act (NFA).
It’s the exact nightmare scenario Texas Gun Rights predicted when Republican leadership caved to a left-wing parliamentarian and refused to remove suppressors and SBRs from the NFA altogether.
Instead, so-called pro-gun Republicans like Senator John Cornyn waved the white flag, settling for a “win” that only eliminated the $200 tax, effective in January 2026 — but left the door wide open for future abuse.
Now, with Murphy’s amendment to the military spending bill, we’re seeing just how fast the Left will exploit that weakness.
A Democrat Power Play, Enabled by Republican Cowardice
Let’s be clear: Murphy’s amendment doesn’t just tweak tax policy. It proposes skyrocketing the NFA tax from $200 to $4,709 on most items — more than a 2,250% increase. The tax on “Any Other Weapons” would also jump from $5 to $55.
Murphy’s reasoning? The usual anti-gun fearmongering. In a recent press conference, he railed against the so-called “mass legalization of silencers” — a blatant lie, considering suppressors were never banned, only taxed.
Even gun control groups like Brady celebrated the proposal, thanking Murphy for “removing taxes on deadly silencers” — ignoring the fact that suppressors protect hearing, reduce noise pollution, and are legal in over 40 states.
But what’s more disturbing is the precedent this sets: If the GOP won’t stand firm when they’re in control, what will happen the next time Democrats hold both chambers?
Cornyn’s Legacy of Betrayal
Gun owners remember Senator John Cornyn’s name well — and not fondly.
It was Cornyn who joined hands with Chris Murphy in 2022 to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) — the largest federal gun control bill in 30 years. That disastrous legislation incentivized red flag laws across the country and expanded the NICS Gun Ban Registry.
Now, Cornyn’s willingness to roll over on the parliamentarian’s ruling during debate over H.R.1 shows a pattern: compromise first, principles last.
When the Senate parliamentarian — an unelected staffer — gutted pro-gun provisions from Trump’s flagship legislation, Cornyn was one of the first to cheerlead a tax reduction as a “victory.” No floor fight. No procedural battle. Just submission.
No wonder Cornyn is trailing badly in the Texas primary, with Attorney General Ken Paxton surging in polls as grassroots gun owners rally behind someone who actually defends the Second Amendment.
What Happens Next
Murphy’s amendment is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate — for now. But that’s beside the point.
This is a trial balloon. A test to see what gun control Congress could ram through the next time Democrats hold a majority.
And thanks to the GOP’s failure to permanently delist suppressors and SBRs from the NFA, Murphy and his ilk now have a live grenade to pull the pin on at will.
As Chris McNutt, President of Texas Gun Rights, warned during the H.R.1 fight:
“If we don’t drive a stake through the heart of the NFA now, it’ll rise again — and next time, the gun grabbers won’t ask for permission.”
Murphy just proved him right.
