DOJ Declines Appeal in National Firearms Act Deregulation Ruling

The United States Department of Justice declined to file an emergency appeal against a ruling by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, which struck down federal registration, fingerprinting, and permitting requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. The ruling took effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 14, 2026, after the department missed a seven-day deadline to seek a stay.

Judge Hendrix ruled that the National Firearms Act of 1934 lost its constitutional basis after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, eliminated the $200 federal tax previously used to justify the regulatory scheme. The court found that without this revenue-generating purpose, the government could no longer enforce the associated bureaucratic mandates. The deregulation currently applies to the plaintiffs in the case, which include 15 Republican-led states, firearms businesses, and advocacy groups like Gun Owners of America.

Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the department respects Second Amendment rights and is assessing the ruling's impact. While the government retains a 60-day window for a standard appeal, Representative Andrew Clyde reported that President Trump confirmed there will be no further challenges. Gun rights advocates celebrated the move as a historic victory, with some members of Gun Owners of America conducting the first unregistered suppressor transfers in 92 years. Conversely, gun-control organizations including Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety condemned the decision, arguing that the removal of these limits fails to protect public safety.